India have undeniably come close to taking down the current World Champion Australia in the past seven months. Heart-breaking losses in both Commonwealth Games and T20 World Cup semi-final have showed the huge potential and talent India possess. Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur believes that a tournament like WPL (Women’s Premier League) will be able to bridge this gap between two teams, giving more opportunities to young players to contribute and grow. Both games were neck-and-neck, with Harmanpreet being the highest scorer for India, which eventually lead them near victory. However, India’s lower order couldn’t close out their chases in the end. Nevertheless, it has certainly been much better than the 85-run defeat India had received against Australia in T20 World Cup final last year.
It’s no wonder that Harmanpreet Kaur is eagerly anticipating the Women’s Power League (WPL) set to kick off in India next year. This tournament will be the first of its kind for this country and Harmanpreet knows that it could prove to be a massive stepping stone in bridging the gap between their pool of talent versus other nations like Australia and England. She hopes with this tournament, new generations of talented players will emerge and create an even playing field between all three countries. This would be an incredible achievement, and something the WPL is working towards – uplifting Indian cricket to new heights.
Harmanpreet Kaur has been a reliable leader for India in the grandest stages of cricket. In the 2018 Commonwealth Games final at Birmingham, she led by example with a quick fifty but unfortunately couldn’t get India over the line, as they slipped while chasing 162. Fast forward to this past July and her heroics against Australia in the World Cup semi-final were crucial. The team found themselves in trouble early on, having lost three wickets as they chased 173 in their allotted 50 overs, yet she guided the team with a counterattacking innings of 41 off 34 balls before getting a heartbreaking run-out when attempting a second run. The team eventually succumbed to pressure due to her untimely dismissal but you can bet she will be right back leading India in future knockout matches.
Jemimah Rodrigues proved herself to be an invaluable asset for the Indian Women’s team in the recently-concluded ICC T20 World Cup semi-final and CWG final, where she played second fiddle to her captain while producing impressive scores of 33 and 43 respectively. Though both matches ended in heartbreak, these knocks propelled her into greater limelight. With the Women’s Premier League 2020 just around the corner, Rodrigues remains confident of a better performance this time around. She has welcomed the competition as a “blessing in disguise” for the members of the team still coming to terms with that painful loss in Melbourne.
After losing the semi-finals, Rodrigues acknowledged that it was tough for her team and although they were still on their way to healing, the WPL was a blessing in disguise. Not only will it give them the opportunity to focus on something else, but it will also be a great platform for future female cricket superstars. Rodrigues remain optimistic that with more exposure and opportunities through leagues such as the WPO, women’s cricket will only grow further and new stars of Indian cricket will be uncovered.
