Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) all-rounder Kate Cross has revealed that Virat Kohli decided to throw in the towel after winning the Women’s Premier League (WPL) title earlier this month. A tribute to the women’s team. RCB defeated Delhi Capitals (DC) by 8 wickets in the final at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi to win the team’s maiden trophy. Cross, who has not played any of the matches, revealed that it was Kohli who texted the owners at the RCB Unbox event on March 19 “Salute to the girls”.

Cross told the BBC: “The owner got a text from Virat Kohli saying we should pay tribute to the girls on Sunday.”

At the RCB Unbox event, the men’s team saw off the women’s team with a guard of honor and expressed their appreciation for the women’s team’s achievements.

In the WPL final, all-rounder Sophie Molineux won the Man of the Match award with three wickets.

Meanwhile, Kohli received the Man of the Match award in RCB’s match against Punjab Kings (PBKS).

Former RCB captain Kohli scored a quality half-century on a slightly soft pitch.

Kohli (77, 49b, 11×4, 2×6) put in a near-perfect performance as RCB posted 178 for six with four balls to spare to register their first win of this IPL.

From that point on, RCB needed 47 off 24 balls, with Dinesh Karthik (28 not out off 10 balls) and ‘impact player’ Mahipal Lomror (17 not out, 8 balls) coming through some Smart cricket takes them over the ropes. Team Karthik’s designated finisher showed that he can switch seamlessly from the mic to the willow, effortlessly beating Harshar Patel and Arshdeep Singh to finish the match in style.

Kohli’s innings was not flawless as he got a reprieve off both the first zero and the 33rd ball and on both occasions, pacer Sam Curran ) are all the wronged parties.

Kohli created a unique record in the game. The opener completed his 100th T20 fifty-plus, becoming the first and only Indian player to achieve this feat.

In this match, the 35-year-old was back to his best after a disappointing performance against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

(with ANI and PTI inputs)