What RCB’s Victory Signified for Women’s Cricket in India

#Part 4 of the spotlight series

15.09.2024

There are moments in life when something you thought you were already passionate about deepens into something even more profound. In Haikyuu!!, there’s a scene where Bokuto explains to Tsukishima that, at some point, everything will click, and Tsukki will truly fall in love with the sport. It’s that one moment in volleyball that hooks you for life. For Tsukki, that moment comes when he blocks a powerful spike during a critical game, discovering the joy and thrill of the game. Later on, for Hinata, it’s the point-saving dig against Inarizaki, where, according to Tsukki, he didn’t just get hooked—he fell even deeper in love with the game.

For me, one of those moments came while watching the 2024 Women’s Premier League (WPL) on my tiny laptop screen in my tiny dorm room, miles away from the action. Yet, I found myself falling in love with the game all over again. It probably helped that the Royal Challengers Bangalore (Bengaluru) won the tournament. Yes, I belong to that massive, loyal fan base that loves the team in red and gold. And the best part? They did it in true RCB style. They didn’t dominate the tournament; instead, they experienced all the highs and lows a team could in three weeks. Though I may be biased, I truly believe they deserved it—for overcoming the challenges, doubts, and the difficult season they had in 2023.

The Missed Opportunity: Why Was the WPL Delayed?

To this day, I will never understand why it took so long for the WPL to materialize. The Hundred, a completely new format designed purely to generate more interest, launched before the WPL. The Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia will celebrate 10 years this season, and it's no surprise that Australia is miles ahead of the rest. Their investment in domestic cricket has allowed their players to develop a level of dominance few can match. England followed swiftly with the Women’s Cricket Super League (WCSL) and the Charlotte Edwards Cup, while New Zealand joined in with the Super Smash by 2018/19. So why did it take arguably the biggest cricketing nation in the world so long to establish a women’s T20 league?

Many argue that the level of investment mirrors the number of fans you can attract, and as someone with a business background, I can see the logic in that. But, as with all things in business, the answer is rarely that simple. Isn’t it true that if you don't invest first, how can you expect it to grow? How do you create a spectacle that draws crowds if you haven't laid the groundwork for it to flourish in the first place? In Australia and England, the WBBL and The Hundred grew not just because of pre-existing fan bases but due to consistent investment in infrastructure, marketing, and player development.

For India, the groundwork was already laid. The IPL is nothing short of a cricketing madhouse—an event as anticipated and celebrated as any religious festival. It captures the nation's heart, creating divisions among fans for two months, only for everyone to reunite to cheer for the 'men in blue' once it’s over. India didn’t need to reinvent the wheel. They had the framework in place for years but failed to realize the potential of launching a women's league. Had they done so earlier, it’s hard not to imagine India already being on par with Australia and England in terms of depth and quality. The WPL’s late arrival didn’t just delay the players' growth—it delayed the nation’s emotional connection to women’s cricket.

The Moment India Got Hooked

For years, the women in blue have made finals and semi-finals, yet, like the men’s team, they could never quite cross the line. While the men have been adored ever since their 1983 World Cup triumph, that same love seemed to elude the women. Sure, crowds came out for the 2017 and 2020 finals, but it was fleeting—support that surfaced only because they reached the final. Before that, there was no real connection; the nation hadn’t yet found a reason to truly love the women’s game.

Even after the inaugural WPL in 2023, it still felt the same. There was excitement, yes, but something was missing. Then came 2024. Enter the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru—a place where the roar of ‘RCB, RCB, RCB’ doesn’t just echo, it reverberates in your head, rent-free. The atmosphere was electric. The fans didn’t need to be there; it wasn’t the men’s team, yet they packed the stadium because this was RCB. It was their team, their home, and they showed up in full force to support the women.

The impact was palpable. Mandhana’s batting thrived, Ellyse Perry smashed windows with her powerful shots, and the sheer joy on the faces of the players was beautiful to witness. I truly believe that the support of those fans, that overwhelming love, gave the team the heart to win three consecutive do-or-die matches, leading them to a well-deserved victory.

Kate Cross was told that if RCB won, they would "break the internet." It didn’t, but what did happen was even more powerful: a massive fan base finally got to experience pure, unfiltered joy, and it was the women who brought it. It was in this moment—when RCB lifted the trophy—that India (or at least most of India) fell in love with women’s cricket.

The Results

Since RCB’s triumph in the 2024 WPL, the ripple effect has been undeniable. The people at the top saw the outpouring of love for the RCB women, and suddenly, the conversation shifted. Talks of new investment opportunities in women’s cricket gained momentum, and state associations like Mumbai and Goa quickly launched their own domestic women’s leagues. The Mumbai Cricket Association kicked off the Presidency Cup, while Goa introduced the Goa Women’s Premier League, both aimed at fostering and promoting homegrown female talent.

This shift wasn’t just about one tournament; it was about the potential everyone could now see. The fan base was there, the support was there, and so was the talent. The WPL had ignited something, and the BCCI took notice, enhancing infrastructure by expanding tournaments for under-15, under-19, under-23, and senior women’s cricket. These new domestic competitions, alongside a commitment to provide full-fledged support staff for the women’s national team, are clear indicators that the momentum generated by RCB’s victory is far from fleeting. This victory wasn’t just a win; it was the start of a new chapter for women’s cricket in India.

Jersey Number 18

RCB won under the leadership of a captain who wore her achievements lightly but carried an undeniable aura with every step she took. Once again, Jersey Number 18 was at the heart of India’s celebrations. In India, Jersey Number 18 is synonymous with royalty: the chase master, the run machine, the king. When a young 17-year-old made her debut in 2013, she probably had no idea of the weight that number carried. Fast forward 11 years, and Jersey Number 18 is once again synonymous with royalty—but this time, not just for the king. There’s a queen now, and her name is Smriti Mandhana.

Since RCB’s 2024 WPL victory, the aura of confidence around Mandhana has only intensified. Her ability to remain composed under pressure was key to RCB’s success, as they won three consecutive must-win games to claim the title. Mandhana’s leadership isn’t loud or boastful; it’s a quiet resolve, allowing her team to rise to the occasion. This quiet strength is exactly what India will need as they head into the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup.

As India steps onto the world stage for the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, they’ll need all the support they can get. With the UAE hosting the tournament—home to many expats from the subcontinent—the women in blue could find themselves backed by a passionate crowd that makes it feel like home. This could be the moment when the nation not only rallies behind its team but truly embraces and falls in love with women’s cricket.