From Bengaluru to Delhi, fans toast Smriti's girls

BENGALURU: "Start a social-media trophy, and we'll have no competition," Royal Challengers Bangalore's icon player Virat Kohli told the multifaceted Danish Sait during an interaction last season.
Social media is only one facet of RCB's popularity as they have a royal legion of fans, unparalleled in franchise cricket. The men's trophy cabinet may be empty, but that hasn't stopped their supporters from packing their den: the M Chinnaswamy stadium.
When the WPL caravan moved to Bengaluru in the second season, Smriti Mandhana and her team received the same unconditional love and support. As Smriti lifted the WPL trophy in Delhi on Sunday, the momentous occasion did not merely break the internet, the RCBians, as the fans call themselves, celebrated on the streets of Bengaluru.
After a long wait, RCB fans celebrate historic moment
Although RCB faced Delhi Capitals on the latter's home turf, they weren't found wanting in terms of support in the stands. While the fact that the stadium is Kohli's home ground cannot be discounted, fans from across the country travelled with the hope they could say, "Ee sala cup namde."
Among those who travelled was Mrudala Venkatesh, a software engineer from the city. "Based on instinct, I bought a ticket to the final with the hope that RCB would make it. I've always supported the men's team and when RCB women's side was formed last year, there was no reason not to back the girls. The trip to Delhi was totally worth it. After all, I witnessed history being created," said the 24-year-old.
A bunch of UPSC aspirants hailing from different parts of Karnataka are shaping their dreams in Delhi, but that didn't stop them from heading to Arun Jaitley Stadium during the league phase.
Akash Shetty, 21, a diehard Virat Kohli fan from Udupi, said, "I've been an RCB fan from childhood and have always been left disappointed at the end of a trophy-less season. When the second phase of WPL started in Delhi, I didn't want to miss a chance to cheer for our team. Men or women don't matter. It is RCB. Period. I was over the moon that the girls ended the fans' long wait for a Trophy."
For 22-year-old Kumar from Badami, it was an emotional Sunday. "I couldn't hold back my tears. Who would have thought that in the second season the girls would bring the cup home? I'm a huge Shreyanka Patil fan and her performance was the icing on the cake."
Thanking the fans, Smriti said after the win, "We've always heard that statement 'ee sala cup namde'. Now, I want to say 'ee sala cup namdu'."
The fans are now hoping RCB will have a victory parade in the city to celebrate the golden girls.