RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana feels it is not right for people to undermine Virat Kohli's performance for the Bengaluru franchise in the wake of her side's title win in the Women's Premier League recently. Mandhana-led RCB defeated Delhi Capitals to lift the WPL trophy in just their second year, while their male counterparts, who were led by the charismatic Kohli for almost a decade before he resigned, have not had success in the 16 year of IPL. “The title is one thing, but what he (Kohli) has achieved for India is remarkable. So I don't think that comparison is right when it comes to where my career is and what he has already achieved,” Mandhana told the media. on Tuesday.
“The reason why I don't like the comparison is that what he has achieved is great; he has been an inspiring person. A title doesn't define many things; we all respect him and I feel like the respect should be good. ” there for Virat. So there is nothing else but me,” the India vice-captain said.
Both Mandhana and Kohli are wearing No. 18 jerseys and the left-handed batsman said the comparison between the two was not justified on that basis.
“I wouldn't call it an 18 equation. The jersey number is just a personal choice; my date of birth is 18th and I have 18 on my back… it doesn't determine how he plays or (how) I play my cricket.” He has been an inspiration to us in many ways, so I wouldn't say the title should define anything,” she added.
Mandhana felt that the men's counterparts had always played good competitive cricket but an IPL title had eluded them.
“I think, to be fair, the men's team has also played good cricket over the last 16 years; it's not that they haven't played well. I don't think the comparison is right. RCB is a franchise; let's keep the men – and women's teams separately because we don't want to be compared with each other.
“They are good at what they do. We are good at what we do,” she added.
On how she scripted the team's super spell, which saw RCB take nine Delhi Capitals wickets for just 43 runs, Mandhana said Sophie Molineux taking three wickets after the strategic timeout was the turning point.
“Especially after that strategic timeout when Sophie got those three wickets, that was kind of the turning point. It was good to see how they (spinners) planned and executed. I think that was good to watch .” Mandhana praised the 'one tribe' culture within the party and said it was something that everyone in the group has adhered to and tried to build on over the past two years.
“Yes, the team culture. There's one big thing that we talked to management about after the (bad) last season, and they really wanted to build one. Because of course we've only been at it for the first or second year, and if we do a few things right, it can do a few things right for a long time, and culture is something that's big (with it).
“One tribe, we are like one family and we are all there for each other. We supported each other, and we did that a lot last season. Last year it didn't work, but this year it worked even more. A lot better, management was just there and celebrating each other's success.”
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