With the stage set for another thrilling season of the Women’s Premier League, five teams fighting against each other, showcasing their absolute best to win the glorifying title of the WPL champions, will be in action from February 23rd till March 17th. In a thrilling showdown last year, the Mumbai Indians emerged victorious over the Delhi Capitals, securing the title with a 7-wicket victory. With the tournament approaching soon, teams have commenced their preparations, with players gathering in Banglore and so have defending champions Mumbai Indians. In a Mumbai Indians presser, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur shared insights about their mindset and preparations for the upcoming season of WPL, keeping fans informed and engaged.
Former England’s Captain Charlotte Edwards was appointed as the Head coach of Mumbai Indians last year. In Friday’s press conference, she expressed her gratitude for the collective effort of the team, which contributed to Mumbai’s championship victory last year, a personal career highlight for her. She mentioned the experience she had with the players and the support staff of the MI team.
She further stated, “We picked the team 12 months ago, and what a wonderful experience it was for the group of players and support staff. To lift that trophy as Harman did on that night at the Brabourne Stadium, will be up there as one of the highlights of my career. More importantly, the people we did it with, with all the youngsters. It was an incredible time.”
In this conversation, the skipper mentioned the WPL platform as a launchpad for international cricket. She cited the example of last year’s performance of left-arm spinner Saika Ishaque who debuted the figure of 4 wickets against 11 runs, her outstanding performance paved the way for her international debut, showcasing her talent and potential on the global stage.
Quoting Harmanpreet Kaur, “WPL is the kind of platform where domestic players will get opportunities. If they do well here then it means they’re kind of ready for international cricket. It makes things easier for the BCCI (selectors) because you’ve proven yourself at a good level and under pressure.
“If we get to see good talent and performances here, then it’ll be really good for us (Indian team) to look at such players and give them opportunities while thinking of the team for the T20 World Cup, I think players getting such opportunities will want to grab them with both hands because if you can perform here then everyone is looking at you and your performance won’t be wasted, and you’ll get chances going ahead.”
Moreover, Harmanpreet emphasized their simple approach for this year’s plan aiming to replicate last year’s performance in WPL while also enjoying the game and celebrating each other’s successes.
Harmanpreet Kaur stated, “Just want to keep things simple and do exactly what we did last year.”
Concluding the press conferences’ statements, Mumbai Indians are set to leave their mark again this year. Considering last year’s performance the Mumbai Indians Women’s team had a remarkable campaign in the WPL 2023 season, successfully executing their pre-season plans in nearly every game. As they gear up for the WPL 2024 season, they are eager to defend their title and secure back-to-back championships.
Source: Mumbai Indians Website