Smriti Mandhana Feels It’s The Right Moment To Start A Women’s T20 League To Build A Strong Indian Women’s Team

India women’s team batter Smriti Mandhana has opined that this is the right time to start a women’s T20 league in order to ensure that it will help build a good squad for the Indian women’s team, like how the Indian Premier League (IPL) has done for Indian men’s team over the years.

The BCCI has started a Women’s T20 Challenge which features Indian women cricketers and players from around the world competing in a short three-team league played in the middle of the IPL. The three teams are Supernovas, Velocity, and Trailblazers, with Mandhana captaining the Trailblazers.

A Women’s League Definitely Gives A Boost To Women’s Cricket, Gives Confidence To Youngsters: Smriti Mandhana

Smriti Mandhana gave the example of how the Indian Premier League has given the Indian men’s team an amazingly strong bench consisting of young talents and says a similar women’s T20 league will help in building up a strong squad and giving strength to youngsters.

“Yeah, I think the kind of performances we’ve had in the last three-four years is great. The average age of the Indian women’s team is 23-24, which means that there are a lot of young players. The league definitely gives a boost to women’s cricket and gives confidence to youngsters. We’ve seen in men’s cricket; debutants are facing 145-150 speed deliveries quite comfortably. You can’t see that they’re nervous on their debut,” said Mandhana in a podcast on Red Bull’s Decoding Athletes series.

“The league has played a big role in that, and it’s going to help women’s cricket as well. If you really want to get a strong women’s team in India, it’s the right time to get a women’s league,” she added.

I’m From Maharashtra, So Would Love To Play For Mumbai Indians: Smriti Mandhana

Mandhana spoke about how she would like to play for a Mumbai-based team in women’s T20 league, like Mumbai Indians, given that she hails from Maharashtra.

“I think at the moment I’m happy to lead Trailblazers. But if given a choice, and because I’m from Maharashtra, so Mumbai probably. But I think all the teams are so good and they look after the players so well. Any team would be amazing for development as a player,” she said.

Also Read: Delhi Likely To Host Women’s T20 Challenge 2021; BCCI Mulls Adding 4th Team