Women’s cricket has grown exponentially in the recent past. Ever since that iconic 2017 final at Lord’s when England triumphed over India in a nail-biter in front of a packed house, attempts to proliferate the game have been numerous.
The revolution was already in motion with the Women’s Big Bash League being instituted in the 2015/16 Australian summer. The Kia Super League in England followed only a few months later.
The 2017 World Cup came along and shot the women’s game into the consciousness of the wider cricket-loving public, and the appetite for the game grew significantly. In 2018, there were exhibition women’s games staged during the Indian Premier League, possibly indicative of a full women’s tournament being considered for the future.
Through the KSL, England have found their bridge between a not-so-robust domestic structure and international cricket, but how are India looking to address the issue? Just through word of mouth and sound advice for now.
“We’ve spoken to all the batters,” said Mandhana. “Even me and Mithu di and Harry di have spoken to all the domestic batters regarding how the approach should be and we’re definitely working on it. It’s going to take some amount of time because still our batters have the fear of getting out. I think we need to leave that fear. Everyone, including me, we need to get off those fears and select our areas.”
One suspects that a Women’s IPL will enable the country’s younger players to learn from international stars in a more competitive arena. That surely has to come to fruition sooner rather than later.
