Michael Vaughan challenges Virat Kohli's RCB to win IPL 2024 after the Women's team win the WPL

Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes 2024 could be Royal Challengers Bangalore’s year in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The England great’s prediction came after RCB won the recently concluded Women’s Premier League (WPL).

Led by India star Smriti Mandhana, RCB thrashed Delhi Capitals by eight wickets in the final to win the second edition of the WPL. Bowling first, the Bengaluru-based outfit bowled out Delhi Capitals for a modest total of 113 runs.

At one stage, Delhi were cruising at 64 for no loss after seven overs before Sophie Molineux dismissed Shafali Verma (44), Jemimah Rodrigues (0), and Alice Capsey (0) inside an over to reduce them to 64 for 3. After that collapse, Delhi could not recover and lost wickets at regular intervals to be bowled out for just 113 runs.

In reply, RCB chased down the total in the very final over. They never really looked in trouble while chasing the modest total and eventually crossed the finishing line with three balls remaining. Mandhana (31), Sophie Devine (32), and Ellyse Perry (35*) played crucial knocks to power RCB to a historic triumph.

Michael Vaughan’s prediction for RCB:

With the RCB women’s team winning the WPL, Michael Vaughan believes their male counterpart could finally go all the way in the IPL. RCB is yet to win the IPL. They are one of the three teams who have been playing in the IPL since the very first season but have yet to lay their hands on the coveted title.

They qualified for the final thrice in the past but ended up losing on all three occasions. They last qualified for the final in 2016. In the last season, they could not even make it to the playoffs. However, Michael Vaughan believes IPL 2024 could finally end RCB’s long wait for the IPL title. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the former cricketer praised RCB for winning the WPL and wrote:

“Fantastic tournament .. Well deserved win for @RCBTweets !! Now can the Men do the double !!! This could be the year …”

Fantastic tournament .. Well deserved win for @RCBTweets !! Now can the Men do the double !!! This could be the year … https://t.co/1yjDWD3wFo

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 17, 2024

Meanwhile, IPL 2024 is scheduled to be played from March 22. RCB will be in action in the very first game of the competition as they will lock horns against reigning champions Chennai Super Kings in Chennai.