We Need A Women's IPL: Mithali Raj

Mithali Raj, the legendary Indian cricketer who announced her retirement from international cricket on June 8, inspired a generation of female cricketers throughout her time with the national team.

The idea of a women’s Indian Premier League (IPL) has gathered traction in recent years, and Raj outlined why the event is important to India. The Indian Premier Tournament (IPL) has not only become the most popular T20 league in the world, but it also creates a profusion of youthful talent with each new season.

Women’s IPL Can Help Unearth New Talents Just Like The IPL: Mithali Raj

Raj told ABP that a women’s IPL might have the same influence as the IPL on women’s cricket, with new talent being discovered.

“We can unearth plenty of young talent through women’s IPL. The way a pool of players has increased in men’s cricket through the IPL, similarly many women cricketers will also come to play in the IPL,” she said.

Raj went on to claim that explosive opener Shafali Verma was identified during an exhibition match and went on to play for the country after receiving suitable training. “Shafali Verma, for example, is also the product of an exhibition match. We saw her for the first time in Jaipur and realised if she is moulded properly, then she can definitely be a player who can help India. And today, she is playing as an Indian opener,” she added.

In response to the suggestion that the skill pool in women’s cricket is limited, Raj stated: “We can at least start with five or six teams. And in a few years, the number of teams can be increased when the pool increases.”

Raj went on to become one of the greatest female cricketers of all time after making her debut in 1999. Raj became the first woman to play two decades of ODI cricket in October 2019, at the age of 36.

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