Mandhana played despite illness, says RCB coach Rangarajan

Vadodara, Feb 6: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach Malolan Rangarajan on Thursday hailed skipper Smriti Mandhana for producing a “classy and elegant” match-winning innings in the Women’s Premier League final, despite battling illness.
Mandhana scored a decisive 41-ball 87 as RCB chased down a challenging target of 204 against Delhi Capitals to clinch their second WPL title, registering the highest successful run chase in the tournament’s history.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Rangarajan said Mandhana saved one of her finest performances for the final.
“Smriti, I think, saved one of her best innings for the final. The way she batted today was inhuman. So classy, so elegant. She was completely in control and it didn’t look like a 200-run chase the way she batted,” Rangarajan said.
The RCB coach revealed that Mandhana played the title clash despite suffering from a severe bout of flu.
“She played this game with a massive flu and high fever. She was seriously unwell but didn’t show it at all. When I spoke to her in the afternoon, she just said, ‘No problem, I’ll be there.’ That’s the kind of person she is,” he added.
Rangarajan also credited Mandhana’s constant pursuit of improvement for her sustained success at the highest level.
“She’s a nerd when it comes to her batting. She’s always looking to improve and get better at her skill, and that mindset has helped her achieve what she has,” he said.