The presence of England’s Alice Capsey, Australia’s Laura Harris and USA’s Tara Norris on the sidelines of a Delhi Capitals event in Mumbai ahead of the inaugural Women’s Premier League is a testament to the growing popularity of women’s cricket in India. It is not only heartening to see these women representing their respective countries, but also the media attention they have been receiving during their stay. It speaks volumes about how far Indian women’s cricket has come since its inception and it gives us great hope for the future that more female athletes will continue to rise in prominence throughout this journey. Hopefully this signals good times ahead for female participation in sports as well as gender equality in India!
The clear urgency of proceedings since the inception of this season’s WPL has been hard to miss. It is no surprise that the powerbrokers behind the tournament managed to complete all the arrangements for it within a relatively short time-span, coming so close to its commencement on the 4th of March. This isn’t an ordinary situation for most participants involved, particularly given their lack of practice time; however, if new norms have taught us anything, it is that determination and agility can help one withstand even the biggest obstacles. In such times, we must all stay united with our heads held high, awaiting each game and looking forward to some fiery action in this legendary tournament.
Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians were two of the first teams to establish a scouting network when they acquired Ben Sawyer and Charlotte Edwards as their head coaches. Ben Sawyer has been highly sought after by many countries around the world for his expertise in women’s cricket, already having served as assistant coach of Australia’s Women World Cup victory last year and head coach for New Zealand’s bronze-medal finish in the Commonwealth Games. Charlotte Edwards, an established figure in the world of women’s cricket, was quickly acquired by Mumbai Indians to add to their scouting network. These two iconic coaches will serve their new franchises well in their mission to bring success to the sport.
With the Women’s T20 Premier League set to kick off just 6 days after the end of the T20 World Cup, there will be a flurry of excitement in India. Not only are many of its citizens celebrating Australia’s win but local and international players alike are rushing to join at brand new teams. Indeed, Australian captain Meg Lanning and South African allrounder Marizanne Kapp arrived in Mumbai on Thursday morning, only hours before the start of the event. They will also have to quickly think about how to work together with their new teammates and put together a winning squad – no small feat gearing up for just one week! WPL is sure to be an exciting tournament with multiple possibilities arising from this unique pool of talent!
Managing a cricket team is no easy task, and the enormity of the task increases significantly when players come in from different regions and countries. According to coach Lanning of the Minnesota Indians, the biggest challenge is combining such diverse talents under one umbrella. While spending time at training goes a long way in understanding each-others’ skills and getting to know other better, it does not cover interpersonal connection on an emotional level – and this is where team-bonding activities come into play. Most teams have incorporated such activities and taken up initiatives like playing UNO or creating reels with popular songs for a fun-filled evening. Such activities help the players open up and make opinions about each other away from cricket which paves the way for strong performances on field.
Harmanpreet’s words speak to the heart of sport: feeling confident in your team and understanding your teammates as friends. Even with limited practice time, there is opportunity for growth within teams based on special bonds. By making the extra effort to get to know one another, Mumbai captain ensures that each team member can work together in unity and trust. Through team activities, the right chemistry is created and everyone gains a sense of purpose and camaraderie which helps them gel as they take their shots on the field. This is an invaluable part of successful sportsmanship which Harmanpreet clearly understands and appreciates!
With World Premier League action just around the corner, the teams have been hard at work. All teams begin their training camps with a mix of Indian domestic players and overseas players who missed out on the T20 World Cup. Mumbai, Capitals, Giants and UP Warriorz utilized numerous grounds across Mumbai for practices and drills, while Royal Challengers made use of their accustomed Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru before arriving in Mumbai on Wednesday. Some teams even went to the extent of hosting intra-squad matches over the course of the week to better evaluate their players’ capabilities. Preparations are in full swing – we can hear those cheers from here!
As one of the new faces on the coaching staff of the Capitals, Director of Cricket Samantha Edwards has been leaning on batting coach Devika Palshikar and mentor/bowling coach Jhulan Goswami for their invaluable insights on local players as well as helping her improve her communication with the team’s Indian players. These two budding stars are also joined by head coach Jonathan Batty’s assistant Hemalata Kala along with fielding coach Biju George – who together, know the Indians in the set-up very well. Edwards shared her newfound enthusiasm when she said: “Getting to know these players has been truly wonderful despite having relatively little prior knowledge of them. My teammates have made it easier for me to get up to speed because now I’m able to recognize potential that can be brought out from younger talent around Mumbai.” Combining those talents with Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership will surely set a high standard for the Capitals moving forward.
The Women’s Big Bash League saw a great example of familiarity between players and coaches last year when Melbourne Stars brought in new head coach Trent Batty. Not only was he familiar with the girls from having coached them before, but two of his players—Jemimah Rodrigues and Alice Capsey—have followed him to the Capitals for this upcoming season. Additionally, Batty’s success as the head coach of Oval Invincibles led them to back-to-back titles in the women’s Hundred, an accomplishment that would not have been possible without Kapp’s excellent plays over those two championship seasons. With such strong relationships between these influential figures, their understanding on the field is sure to accelerate progress off it and elevate their teams to new heights in 2021.
Sydney Sixers have been lucky enough to coach by some skilled and notable players like Ellyse Perry, Erin Burns, Sophie Devine and Rachael Haynes. Royal Challengers Bengaluru has signed them all. Not just Ellyse, Erin, Sophie and Rachael but also Beth Mooney as captain of the Giants team and Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham and Annabel Sutherland make up that squad. It is an exciting time for Jon Lewis who is coaching in Warriorz team with a couple of his former team members Lauren Bell and Sophie Ecclestone. All the teams associated with theplayers mentioned above are sure to benefit from the experience they bring to their respective teams.
The advent of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in India marks a significant milestone in the development of women’s cricket. Until now, this was an area that lacked professionalism, but with this transition to a more organized structure, India’s female cricketers are well-placed to take their game up another level. This increased competition could also help them go from being tournament winners to true contenders for the elusive Women’s World Cup. With the WPL providing a platform for these players to further develop their skills and prepare for major global tournaments, it seems like a dream may soon become reality on the field for India’s women cricketers.
