WPL: Taking girls’s cricket ahead, one season at a time
It’s a rising model and getting stronger with every passing 12 months. The primary season was performed at only one venue, second at two and the third version this 12 months was held throughout 4 cities – Lucknow, Vadodara, Bengaluru and Mumbai.
Over time extra groups may also get added to the roster.
Although equality continues to be a long way away, the market has responded nicely with corporates coming ahead to put money into the ladies’s recreation. Extra importantly, fan engagement has seen exponential progress. Quite a few matches have been performed in entrance of packed stadiums.
“We’ve got seen a big improve in fan engagement over the three seasons and it’s proof the league is nicely obtained and has struck a chord. Clearly, it has made a distinction and can encourage gifted kids to take to the game. Packed stadiums and folks appreciating you at all times makes a distinction,” stated Meg Lanning, Delhi Capitals captain.
Lanning hailed the contributions of Jemimah Rodrigues as a part of the management group, one thing that may augur nicely for India going ahead. “She is our vice-captain and gives a variety of vitality inside the group. Though she continues to be fairly younger, she has performed lots internationally and domestically as nicely.” Lanning believes Jemimah possesses qualities that might serve her nicely if management alternatives come up. The expansion of youthful gamers is a standout function of the league. Sharing the change room with legends of the sport, it’s however pure that we see youthful gamers profit. “I’m studying lots from all of the senior gamers who’ve performed for India and different international locations,” stated Mumbai Indians’ 16-year-old wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini, who was one of many stars of India’s U-19 World Cup-winning staff earlier this 12 months.
“It is vitally candy of them — the way in which they’ve talked to me. Every single day I’m studying and having fun with my time right here.” The Indian girls’s staff could not have gained a World Cup but. However their achievement — reaching the ultimate in 2017 (50-over World Cup) and 2020 (T20 World Cup) and the semifinal in 2023 (T20 World Cup) — earned them the respect they deserved. That’s when the seeds of change had been sown.
The WPL grew to become a necessity.
The WPL has made certain that no younger woman might be stopped from taking part in cricket rising up in India. And no neighbour may have the audacity to belittle an aspiring lady cricketer. This isn’t to recommend that the mission is full.
There’s nonetheless lots to be carried out — extra groups, extra company involvement and home-and-away format just like the IPL. The story is but to achieve its logical conclusion — equality continues to be a piece in progress. Finally, it’s concerning the gamers. They should earn extra and get rewarded. Solely then the ecosystem will develop into sturdy, encouraging extra women to take up the game and strengthen its basis.
It’s nonetheless Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and England who dominate the ladies’s recreation, profitable World Cups. However in a few years, that would change. India’s journey has picked up tempo and is about to achieve additional momentum.
As Sourav Ganguly, Director of Cricket at Delhi Capitals, stated, “Have a look at Shafali. Have a look at Richa (Ghosh). See the pictures they play. They will clear any cricket floor with ease. The sport has modified, and with extra assist, profitable a World Cup is not a pipedream.”
The following World Cup is simply months away. May or not it’s India’s 12 months? If it occurs, the WPL would have carried out its job.
