Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) all-rounder Kate Cross revealed that it was Virat Kohli’s idea to honour the franchise’s women’s team after their Women’s Premier League (WPL) triumph earlier this month. RCB defeated Delhi Capitals (DC) by 8 wickets in the final at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, winning the franchise their first-ever silverware. Cross, who didn’t play a single game, revealed that it was Kohli who texted the owners to ‘honour the girls’ at the RCB Unbox event on March 19.

“The owner got the text from Virat Kohli saying, we should honour the girls on Sunday,” Cross told BBC.

During the RCB Unbox event, the men’s team gave the women’s team a guard of honour, showing their appreciation for their achievements.

In the WPL final, all-rounder Sophie Molineux won the Player of the Match award for taking three wickets.

Meanwhile, Kohli won the Player of the Match award in RCB’s game against Punjab Kings (PBKS).

The former RCB captain Kohli produced a quality half-century on a slightly gummy pitch.

Kohli (77, 49b, 11×4, 2×6) conducted it to near-perfection as RCB made 178 for six with four balls to spare to register their first win of this IPL.

RCB needed 47 from 24 balls from that point Dinesh Karthik (28 not out off 10 balls) and ‘Impact Player’ Mahipal Lomror (17 not out, 8 balls)carried them past the rope with some sensible cricket. Karthik team’s designated finisher showed that he can seamlessly switch from microphone to willow as he walloped Harshal Patel and Arshdeep Singh with minimum fuss to finish it in style.

Kohli’s innings was not a blemish free effort as he received reprieves on the very first ball on zero and then when he was on 33, and on both the times pacer Sam Curran was the aggrieved party.

Kohli registered a unique record during the match. The opener completed his 100th T20 fifty-plus score, becoming the first Indian and overall only third player to do so.

In the match, the 35-year-old was back at his vintage best following a disappointing game against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

(With ANI and PTI Inputs)