Just travel through the 2.02 km stretch of the Cubbon Road during the course of an IPL season, and occasionally, you might end up hearing chants of “RCB, RCB” from inside the Chinnaswamy Stadium. So much so that even during the 2023 World Cup, this writer could hear the chorus sounds of “RCB, RCB”, while covering a few games.
Despite the tremendous support enjoyed by RCB, the franchise hasn’t been able to fill their cabinet with a trophy. But there is a ray of hope. After close to 16 years and more than 5800 days since the inception of IPL, the RCB women’s team are just one step away from hoisting their maiden WPL title. It isn’t just Bengaluru that seems to be hit by the RCB bug. Thousands of miles away, even on a Delhi Metro, there were loud cheers of “RCB, RCB” and “Perry, Perry” after RCB downed Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator.
Even inside the Arun Jaitley Stadium, where RCB took on MI, there were enough posters of Ellyse Perry. The Perry-Mania is mainly because of her on-field performances, especially against MI. Over the last two games against MI, Perry composed hands of 40 not out and 66, alongside a six-for. That 66 proved to be the telling difference between the two sides in the Eliminator.
Perry had come out to bat with the score reading 20 for 1. It soon became 23 for 3 and 49 for 4. But Perry played with composure and strung together vital stands with her Australian teammates – Sophie Molineux and Georgia Wareham. And it was Perry, who spearheaded those two partnerships. The keynote of Perry’s innings was how she picked the length early against the spin trio of Hayley Matthews, Saika Ishaque and Amelia Kerr, which in turn helped her to defend, rotate the strike and then land the big shots at the end of the innings.
Perry followed up her superlative hand by bagging the scalp of Yastika Bhatia. Ultimately, RCB emerged victorious in a thriller by five runs. That was a brief about Perry’s on-field performances. However, even off the field, Perry has been making the headlines. The Australian superstar dancing in a saree at RCB’s retro night party has caught the attention of fans across India.
For the next couple of days, Perry’s focus would be firmly on the summit clash versus Delhi Capitals. The duo of Smriti Mandhana and Perry and the rest of their teammates would be eyeing some silverware. Maybe the RCB faithful, who have backed the side through the thick and thin, can finally dream of watching their franchise lift a trophy.
RevSportz #Trailblazers2Conclave
Balancing sports and studies at the topmost level. Handling his duties as in IAS officer and district magistrate during the pandemic and training during the night. Listen to the story of determination and commitment from @suhas_ly.
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— RevSportz (@RevSportz) March 16, 2024