Women’s cricket slowly but steadily has started to become popular in India. It all started after the Women’s World Cup 2017 where Indian eves performed exceedingly well. All though they went on to lose against their English counterparts, it started a new revolution in women’s cricket in India. Everyone in the country wants to know what our eves are doing on the cricket field. Likes of Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur have become superstars and rightfully so.
Going by its increasing popularity The Board of Control Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to organize one-of-its-kind T20 challenge match. The match is slated to be played ahead of IPL Qualifier 1 on 22nd of May at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. All the top International players from Australia, England and New Zealand will take part in this match along with the Indian stars.
The contest will see stylish Indian women’s T20 vice-captain Smriti Mandhana led IPL Trailblazers to take on against IPL Supernovas to be captained by attacking batswoman Harmanpreet Kaur. It is learned that the match will follow the IPL rules.
BCCI and CoA are thinking of a potential T20 league for Women cricketers, something very similar along the lines of IPL. This match could be a stepping stone towards it. Cricket Australia has already introduced Women’s Big Bash League successfully back in Australia and It could be a success in India too if everything goes right. This could open an all-new horizon for budding young girls who aspire to become a cricketer in future.
“This is being staged as a well-deserved exhibition to showcase the tremendous depth and capability that women’s cricket in India has achieved. We see it build into a Women’s IPL tournament in a couple years.” CoA chief Vinod Rai said.
The squads:
IPL Trailblazers: Smriti Mandhana(c), Alyssa Healy(wk), Suzie Bates, Deepti Sharma, Beth Mooney, Jemimah Rodrigues, Danielle Hazell, Shikha Pandey, Lea Tahuhu, Jhulan Goswami, Ekta Bist, Poonam Yadav, Dayalan Hemalatha. Coach: Tushar Arothe.
IPL Supernovas: Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Danielle Wyatt, Mithali Raj, Meg Lanning, Sohie Devine, Ellyse Perry, Veda Krishnamurthy, Mona Meshram, Pooja Vastrakar, Megan Schutt, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Anuja Patil, Taniya Bhatia(wk). Coach: Biju George.
