Joining the bandwagon of cricketers who are excited about the Women’s Premier League’s arrival is star Indian all-rounder, Deepti Sharma. Talking to Viacom 18 about her excitement, she said, “Obviously, I am really excited because from the past few years, it was going to start and now that it has I am really excited and cannot express my happiness in words”. She also added that she is so excited that she cannot wait for the league to kickstart and play in the maiden match of the inaugural league.
When asked about how she sees her individual game would improve playing in such high-octane tournaments, she said, “ Definitely having played in World Cups, I like to take on pressure situations in all the departments be it batting, bowling or contributing with good fielding.” She also believes that situations in the past where she was able to handle pressure really well has moulded her to be the player she is and that she is able to adapt herself to it more easily. Playing more of these matches will help ease pressure even in the multination tournaments like the World Cups where India has suffered from heartbreaking losses and it is in these World Cups that players realise the true pressure cooker situations and being calm and composed will greatly help.
All-rounder Deepti Sharma talks about the excitement building ahead for the T20 World Cup and IPL🤩#CricketTwitter | via @viacom18 pic.twitter.com/EiSWjT1eet
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While reflecting on the role of all-rounders in the Women’s Premier League, she opined, “Every team has an all-rounder and their role is multidimensional”. Every team requires them as they chip in with not just runs but also scalp wickets, their presence and impact is massive and it sets them apart from the other players in the team. She added that in the WPL, the all-rounders will be in demand and play a very important role. Talking more about how the WPL will impact young girls, she said, “Everyone wants to play in a tournament like the WPL” as it provides a massive stage and she drew parallels to the men’s IPL that has served as a springboard for many aspiring cricketers who went on to make it big and is a big opportunity for the domestic players to make a statement for themselves and showcase their talent. For the youngsters and fringe domestic players can take the momentum from their game making the best use of a platform like this, making a case for themselves in the national team is what she believes in.
She concluded with a message for the fans and said, “Keep supporting and do watch (the matches) wherever you are”. She signed off with a crucial message that the support for women’s cricket, at large, is important and it is imperative to support any team of your choice and let’s enjoy this maiden WPL that will definitely capture the imagination of the nation like none other.
I am a first year postgraduate student pursuing a MA in Media and Communication Studies at Christ University, Bengaluru. I am a podcaster, blogger and an avid cricket fan. When not glued to cricket matches, you can find me submerged in books and thinking about cricket all the time.