‘To Smriti Mandhana..’: Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma’s unforgettable message after RCB’s incredible WPL 2026 victory

Originally posted on Cricket Times
By Amar Pal Singh Bhalla | Last updated Feb 6, 2026 2:28 AM ET

In a historic display of dominance, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) claimed their second Women’s Premier League (WPL) title on February 5, 2026, defeating Delhi Capitals by six wickets. With this victory, RCB has etched its name in the record books as the first franchise in history to hold both the IPL (2025) and WPL (2026) trophies simultaneously.

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma share electrifying words as RCB clinches their 2nd WPL trophy in style

Almost immediately after the final boundary was struck in Vadodara, Virat Kohli took to social media to congratulate the squad. His message was a blend of pride and validation for a team that has now twice brought silverware to the Bengaluru faithful.

“Champions again. Keeping the RCB flag flying high and something that each one of you can be proud of. To Smriti (@smriti_mandhana) and the whole squad and the management team, a big congratulations for this tremendous victory. You guys deserve this undoubtedly. Enjoy the moment and embrace the love of our amazing fans.” Kohli wrote on Instagram.

Bollywood icon Anushka Sharma also shared her excitement on Instagram, celebrating the consistency of the women’s team. Sharing a photo of the jubilant squad lifting the trophy, she added a short yet powerful caption:

“RCB Women do it again. History, repeated.”

A record-breaking chase for RCB against Delhi Capitals in WPL 2026 final

The final was anything but easy. Delhi Capitals, playing their fourth consecutive final, posted a daunting 203 for 4, the highest score in WPL final history. However, RCB’s response was clinical and fearless:

Smriti Mandhana’s Masterclass: The skipper led from the front with a blistering 87 off 41 balls, earning the Orange Cap for the season with 377 runs.
The Power Partnership: Mandhana and Georgia Voll (79) orchestrated a mammoth 165-run partnership, the backbone of the highest successful run-chase in WPL history.
The Finishing Touch: With 10 runs needed off the final over, Radha Yadav stayed ice-cool, hitting back-to-back boundaries to seal the win with two balls to spare.

During the post-match celebrations, Smriti Mandhana credited the team’s success to a shift in mentality, humorously noting they followed the “Virat Kohli route.” She explained that the squad placed an intense focus on fitness and high-performance training during the off-season. This physical conditioning gave the players the belief that “any score can be chased down,” a confidence that was clearly visible as they hunted down 204 on the big stage.

This article first appeared on Cricket Times and was syndicated with permission.

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