’16 years of…’: After RCB’s WPL triumph, Virat Kohli says IPL win this year will be ‘truly special’ | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: As spirited women’s team washed away Royal Challengers Bangalore’s 16 years of hurt and disappointment, landing their maiden Women’s Premier League (WPL) title on Sunday, Virat Kohli was in all praise for Smriti Mandhana and Co. and vowed the men’s team will give it all to bring home the Indian Premier League trophy this year.Lauding the fans base of RCB and the passion and commitment they have shown over the years, Kohli said that he is always going to be with the franchise, reiterating his ‘dream’ of winning the IPL title.At the RCB Unbox event on Tuesday, the men’s team gave the Smriti Mandhana-led WPL champions a ‘guard of honour’, celebrating their success.On the sidelines of the event, Kohli highlighted that an IPL win this year will be truly special.”Amazing, absolutely amazing. When they won, we were all watching it. And at that point you realize the sense of the fan base in its absolutely purest form, at its true potential. I say that because it felt like the city won. If you look at the turnout of the fans during all the games that the RCB women’s team played, there was no comparison. And 30,000 people for the final, I heard a packed stadium here as well when they played. So, these are special things.”That’s what you create over a long period of time. It’s not something that happens over a couple of years. So, 16 years of loyalty, passion, commitment from the fans. It is because of the commitment and the passion with which we have played our cricket over so many years. That is unwavering and never gonna change. And that’s always my commitment every year. To the fans, to the team, to everyone involved. Hopefully we can couple it up with the trophies. That will be something truly special,” Kohli said.”I am always gonna be here. Try to be part of that group that wins it for the first time. I will try my absolute best. With my abilities, with my experience to be able to do that for the fans, for the franchise. It’s kind of a dream of mine as well over so many years to know what it feels like to win the IPL, So, hopefully this year,” Kohli added.RCB’s men’s team comprising Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli, Reece Topley, Mohammed Siraj, Cameron Green, Glenn Maxwell, Dinesh Karthik, Karn Sharma and many more gave the women’s team a guard of honour on Tuesday.Smriti walked holding the trophy with the rest of the players as the men’s team stars applauded the WPL 2024 champions.RCB women thrashed Delhi Capitals by eight wickets in final for their maiden WPL title.