Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) all-rounder Kate Cross revealed that it was Virat Kohli’s idea to honor the franchise’s women’s team after their win in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) earlier this month. RCB defeated Delhi Capitals (DC) by 8 wickets in the final at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, helping the franchise win their first ever silverware. Cross, who did not play any game, revealed that it was Kohli who texted the owners to ‘celebrate the girls’ during the RCB Unbox event on March 19.
“The owner got a text from Virat Kohli saying we have to honor the girls on Sunday,” Cross told the BBC.
At the RCB Unbox event, the men’s team gave the women’s team a guard of honor, showing their appreciation for their achievements.
In the WPL final, all-rounder Sophie Molineux won the Player of the Match award for taking three wickets.
Meanwhile, Kohli won the Player of the Match award in RCB’s match against Punjab Kings (PBKS).
Former RCB captain Kohli produced a quality half-century on a slightly sticky pitch.
Kohli (77, 49b, 11×4, 2×6) executed it almost perfectly as RCB made 178 for six with four balls to spare to register their first win of this IPL.
RCB needed 47 off 24 balls from then on. Dinesh Karthik (28 not out, 10 balls) and ‘Impact Player’ Mahipal Lomror (17 not out, 8 balls) carried them down the rope with some sensible cricket. Karthik team’s designated finisher showed his ability to seamlessly switch from mic to willow as he bowled over Harshal Patel and Arshdeep Singh with minimal effort to finish it off in style.
Kohli’s innings was not a flawless effort as he was reprieved on the very first ball at nil and then when he was on 33, and on both occasions pacer Sam Curran was the aggrieved party.
Kohli registered a unique record during the match. The opener completed his 100th T20 plus score of fifty, becoming the first Indian and only third player overall to do so.
The match saw the 35-year-old back to his best after a disappointing outing against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
(With ANI and PTI inputs)
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