The 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL) action is about to get underway, with five heavyweights clashing to clinch the elusive cup on the 15th of March in Mumbai.
As teams gears up for a new season with renewed energy and mindset, India and Mumbai Indians skipper Harmanpreet Kaur voiced her opinion about the positive effects of the WPL and how it has played an instrumental role in staging a phenomenal platform for young talents to showcase their skills and talent in a huge limelight.
Harmanpreet Kaur-led Mumbai Indians etched history by becoming the inaugural winners but fell short of the Finals berth with a narrow loss against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Eliminator of 2024.
“A lot of domestic players performed well in the first season, and some of them got an opportunity in international cricket. In the second season, we got a few more players. [Ahead of the third] season, the domestic players have worked very hard, and we saw there was a lot of competition even in the auction.
“Some players have been bought at very good prices. It was very exciting and interesting to see the benchmark these players have set, and they have worked hard after that. This season all teams are well balanced, a lot of good players have come in. I’m expecting a lot of good matches, like we saw in the last two seasons,” said Kaur.
Kaur acknowledged that while they maintained thorough consistency in certain aspects during the maiden season, they weren’t at their best in the second season. She admitted that the team lacked to perform well throughout and attempted a comeback towards the fag end.
Recognising the challenges of the season, she emphasised that they have worked on those areas, made changes to the squad, and prepared accordingly. She expressed hope that this season, they would fill all the gaps from last time and deliver a stronger and better performance.
“If Indian players got to be captains in the WPL while working with the international players in their team, they would have improved as cricketers as well. Somewhere the franchises have to show a little more trust in Indian players, give them an opportunity and push them forward because this is the platform for it, and to improve Indian cricket. For example, when I was playing WBBL or Hundred, I was also helping my team captains there. So, if franchises do this, our Indian players can get some help, and things can be a lot better.”
The next mega event for Indian players would be the ODI World Cup that is scheduled to be played in India. With India’s disappointing performance in recent ICC tournaments, Kaur will be shouldered with huge responsibility to erase the past horrors and help Indian win their maiden World Cup title.
While the formats may vary, Kaur expressed that if a player performs well at a high-pressure level like the WPL, it speaks volumes about her quality. The Indian captain emphasised that across all formats, the key factor is a player’s ability to thrive under pressure.
If someone proves herself by delivering strong performances and leading her team to victory, the cricketer deserves a chance to represent the country as well. WPL has been a platform for players to train whole-heartedly and are equipped with better training facilities. Every resource is provided to the players and are well groomed for playing at the highest competitive level.
The 35-year-old said, “I watched this last domestic season very closely and how each and every player had prepared. The level of our domestic cricket this season was quite good. Until now teams hardly used to score 200-250 in one-dayers, but this time we saw 300-plus totals, and some teams chase those down as well.
“So WPL has surely set that standard, that if you want to play at the top level, you have to change your game accordingly. When a player gets a WPL contract, she can spend it on herself. Earlier domestic cricketers did not earn as much, so we weren’t sure how much some players could spend on themselves. Since the WPL has arrived, the franchises have also invested, they are holding camps, and players are getting to work with different coaches.
“Thanks to franchise cricket, the good players stay busy throughout the year, play a good standard of cricket, and work with good coaches. All these things have helped players a lot and the game will improve further in the coming years.”
Kaur acknowledged that many Indian domestic players went unsold this particular season, underlining the ease of acquiring international players. She mentioned that increasing the number of teams would create enhanced opportunities for state-level players, ultimately bringing value to the Indian cricket table.
Initially, there were doubts about whether there were enough players for multiple teams, but with five teams currently in place, the inspirational leader believes that the league could expand to six soon, followed by seven within a year or two, and potentially even ten in the future.
With more chances to play, natural improvement would follow, leading to a stronger and bigger talent pool.
(Quotes sourced from EspnCricinfo)
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