NEW DELHI: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) women's coach Malolan Rangarajan applauded captain Smriti Mandhana after she led the team to their second Women's Premier League (WPL) title, smashing a brilliant 87 off just 41 balls in the final against Delhi Capitals on Thursday. Remarkably, Rangarajan revealed, Mandhana battled a "massive flu" while delivering her match-winning performance.

Mandhana's innings helped RCB pull off the highest-ever successful chase in WPL history, guiding the team to a target of 204 in just 20 overs.

At the post-match press conference, Rangarajan described Mandhana's display as one of her finest, lauding her composure and complete control under pressure. He added that her commitment was extraordinary, stepping onto the field despite a high fever and illness - and still leading the team to glory without letting her condition affect her performance.

"Smriti, I think, saved one of her best innings for the final. The reason why I say that is, yes, she's been in very good form in the last 12 months or so, but the way she batted today was inhuman. I mean, I don't even know the word, so classy, so elegant. When you looked at her, you could see that she was in control of what she wanted to do. It didn't look like a chase that was 200 the way she batted. She's timing the ball, and when she wanted, she was hitting, picking the pockets in which he wanted to attack," Malolan Rangarajan said.

Amazing feeling to win three titles in three years: Smriti Mandhana on RCB glory

"Smriti played this game with a massive, massive flu. She was seriously unwell with a high fever, but again, to turn up and not even show it. Nobody in the team, for one second, also didn't show it. So, that's the person she is. When I spoke to her this afternoon, she said, 'No problem, I'll be there.' So, that's her with her work," Rangarajan said further.

Rangarajan described Smriti Mandhana as a "nerd" about her batting, crediting her constant drive to improve for her success.

"She's a nerd when it comes to her own batting, and I guess that's why she's ended up achieving what she's achieved in life. She's always looking to improve, always looking to get better at her skill. Smriti always tries, and I think luckily, and fortunately, she cracked the code two days back," the RCB coach said.