RCB captain Smriti Mandhana after winning Women’s Premier League title. (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Royal Challengers Bengaluru sealed a historic second Women’s Premier League title with a stunning win over Delhi Capitals in Vadodara on Thursday, but for spinner Shreyanka Patil, the triumph meant something far more personal — a tribute to skipper Smriti Mandhana, who delivered a match-winning performance after navigating a turbulent phase in her personal life.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Mandhana, who recently faced turmoil after her wedding was called off, responded in the most emphatic way possible — smashing 87 in the final, the highest individual score in a WPL title clash. Her knock, alongside Georgia Voll’s 79, powered RCB to a record-breaking chase of 204, sealing the trophy in dramatic fashion.

After the victory, Patil dedicated the title to her captain, underlining the emotional weight behind the win. “Would love to mention three people — number one, Smriti, because she has gone through a lot in the last couple of months. Would love to dedicate this win to her. Malo and Anya… Today is Anya’s son’s first birthday. And again, Malo — first time he’s the head coach and it’s a special win for all of us,” she said.Calling it a “very special” season after her comeback, Patil thanked fans for backing the team despite the daunting 200-plus target. She finished the 2026 campaign with 11 wickets in nine innings, playing a crucial role in RCB’s title run.

Mandhana’s heroic innings not only anchored the highest successful chase in a WPL final but also reinforced her status as one of the league’s biggest match-winners. Delhi Capitals, meanwhile, were left searching for answers after ending their fourth straight season without a trophy.All-rounder Radha Yadav praised the management’s backing and the team’s situational training sessions, saying the hard work behind the scenes played a big role in the title run.For RCB, however, the night belonged to Mandhana — a captain who turned personal adversity into championship glory.

Aryna Sabalenka has sparked engagement rumours with her new batch of photos. As the Belarusian shared some snaps from her latest glam session, fans were quick to zero in on an crucial detail and speculate if she had gotten engaged to long time boyfriend Georgios Frangulis.

Sabalenka and Frangulis have been a power couple of the tennis world for quite some time now. The Brazilian is the four-time Grand Slam champion’s biggest fan and is a constant presence in the audience when she’s competing. Recently, Sabalenka took to Instagram to share some glammed-up photos from her time at the Crown Towers and eagle-eyed fans were quick to spot the flashy piece of jewelry she sported on her ring finger.

The pictures were enough to set off some engagement rumours for the couple, with fans showcasing their curiosity in the comments section.

“Babe is it happening??? 💍☺️,” one fan wrote.

“Wait….what’s that big sparkly yellow thing on your finger???? 💍😮,” another added.

Aryna Sabalenka and Georgios Frangulis first began dating in early 2024. Rumours of their relationship caught fire sometime in April after the duo were spotted together in Madrid. The speculation found further purchase over the next few months as Frangulis began making regular appearances in the World No.1’s player’s box. The couple made their relationship Instagram official in July, 2024 and have since been vocal about their love for each other.

Aryna Sabalenka reflects on the beginning of her relationship with Georgios Frangulis, reveals why she was hesitant to date the Brazilian

Aryna Sabalenka recently opened up about the beginning of her relationship with Georgios Frangulis. In an interview with Alexandre Cossenza, the Belarusian revealed that the duo knew each other for some time before they went on their first date. She also revealed the reason she had been hesitant about dating the Brazilian, saying,

“We met actually long before we actually went for the first date. So I just knew him from (when) I started working with Oakberry. And then we met a bit later and went for dinner and I felt really connected. Because before I wasn’t sure if I can handle a relationship with someone who doesn’t speak Russian and then I felt really connected to him, his mentality. I think we are really similar. He’s very kind and I fell in love and somehow he got me.”

On the tennis end of things, Aryna Sabalenka was last seen in action at the Australian Open. The World No.1 claimed her second-consecutive runners-up finish at the event, losing to Elena Rybakina in the finals.