There are certain players who have been such incredible servants of the game that the essence of their art becomes synonymous with their name. Such has been the eminent and distinguished career of stalwart Jhulan Goswami, who may have bid farewell to international cricket in 2022, but is now paving a bright future for the next generation.
With the spark in her turning into fire after witnessing the Women’s ODI World Cup final at Eden Gardens in 1997, Goswami has had a stupendous career, inspiring millions on and off the field. Currently serving as the bowling coach and mentor for inaugural champions Mumbai Indians, she plays a crucial role in shaping the evolving landscape of franchise cricket.
The 42-year-old believes that franchise cricket is the best way to take forward women’s cricket globally. “Tell me how many matches were televised before these franchise leagues like WPL came into being, how many people would come to the stadium? With franchise leagues, the viewership has risen, there has been financial support greater than what players get from bilateral series. What many players earn from a single season of WPL is higher than what they get from a single year of the BCCI contract”, she added.
The ladies have had their names written in the history books first. The Women’s ODI World Cup played in 1973, is the oldest global tournament in the world preceding the men’s World Cup by 2 years. While it comes to personal records, Belinda Clark etched history by becoming the first double centurion in ODI cricket history. No doubt there has been much stuff to talk about women’s cricket, but the media stands hesitant to deliver dedicated coverages.
The slim coverages ranged from mega tournaments to occasional stories of legendary players. The WPL has brought about a change. Social media outreach, which is necessary for higher engagement of franchise cricket, has seen the other side of the coin. Media outlets have well-directed coverages at prime times and are no longer an ignored entity.
Viacom 18’s whopping deal at $116 million prior to the tournament’s start had indicated that there were signs of craze. With WPL being a partner to the IPL, brands have got a new ecosystem to dive into. With the ladies on the hoarding boards for a month time and the big names getting brand endorsements, the WPL has sown the seeds of fan following. The founders must’ve likely feared their innovation would crash, but it has instead become a proud success.
Fans have started to feel a sense of emotional connection with the WPL. Soon when Richa Ghosh lost a last-ball thriller against Delhi in the previous edition, people thronged to a high-traffic social media and expressed their commemorations for the fighting player. Talks of an upcoming high-octane game were amidst the lovers of the game who looked at it with a sense of belonging. WPL’s inaugural theme followed a similar storyline – “Har Zubaan par Tera naam” and the fruits are surely found.
Talking about the growth in women’s cricket since the birth of WPL, the legend Jhulan Goswami said, “Let me give you the example of MI’s Sajeevan Sajana. In her very first match last year [against Delhi Capitals], playing under a pressure situation of needing five runs in one ball, she hit a sixer to help us win. While Sajana was doing this for her state team for several years, WPL has given her the platform for instant recognition. Earlier, no one watched women’s cricket, matches weren’t being televised. When she hit that six in front of a packed stadium, it changed the course of her career—she got to represent India, she played in the World Cup.”
Jhulan Goswami emphasised on the importance of fostering unity and togetherness in a franchise-based ecosystem. “In a tournament like WPL, team building is important because you play with players who come to you through an auction, [unlike national teams where they are automatically selected]. We try to keep the dressing room a happy place so that they can express themselves on the field. The MI motto is to play fearless cricket, and we ensure they stick to that.” Mumbai Indians have been serious performers in WPL as they lifted the title in 2023 and finished second on the points table in 2024.
Merit may be delayed, but it is never denied. A single moment can turn a player’s life completely upside down with hard work always paying off. Simran Shaikh, a resident of Asia’s largest slum, Dharavi, was bought by Gujarat Giants for ₹1.90 crore, making her the most expensive buy of 2025. If the right individuals are given the right path to move forward, we may well see more Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Richa Ghosh emerge.
(Quotes sourced from Forbes India)
Loves all things female cricket