Jhulan Goswami Calls For The Inception Of Women IPL; Says It Can Help Women Cricket Scale The Knockout Barrier

Jhulan Goswami, the veteran Indian fast bowler, has called for the inception of the Women IPL as she feels that the playing high-pressure games with and against the best players of the world will help the Women in Blue scale the mental barrier that had prevented them from getting their hands on that elusive world title.

The Women in Blue have come close to winning their first global title in the past three years but come the big stage of the knockouts, the lack of experience of handling such situations has led to their undoing.

India’s dream of becoming world champions was once again squashed this year when they lost to Australia in the finals. According to Jhulan, Australian Women cricket has hugely benefited from the WBBL as the league has provided its players’ ample exposure and stiff competition.

“The current women’s Australian team is like the Australian men’s team of the past (which won three ODIs World Cups from 1999-2007). There is a reason why they are such a superior side. Their set-up is much bigger and Big Bash has given them a lot of opportunities and exposure,” Jhulan Goswami told PTI.

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Women IPL can benefit Women’s cricket in the same manner as the IPL did to Mens’ cricket

Goswami alluded to the fact that how the IPL has helped Indian men’ cricket by leaps and bounds and she feels that the women version of the competition can have the same effect on their cricket.

“You see how Indian men’s cricket improved after the IPL (in 2008). Earlier there was a gap between an Indian cricketer and domestic player but it changed after the IPL. The youngsters look more confident and know how to handle the big stage,” Goswami added.

There have been talks around the inception of the WIPL but some argue that the talent pool at the domestic level is not big enough at the moment.

India is in desperate need of power-hitters like Shafali Verma and pace bowling options like Shikha Pandey. Jhulan said that it takes a considerable amount of time to produce a fast bowler but insisted that there is enough talent available.

“We don’t have a competitive league at the moment. First-class structure is also important but leagues like WBBL and IPL prepare you for the big stage,” Jhulan Goswami reckoned.

“It is not that we don’t have enough medium pacers in domestic cricket. It takes time to groom them. You can’t produce them overnight. It is a process and we have all gone through that. Shikha is also not an overnight product,” she said.

India qualified for the 2021 50-over World Cup after point-split and the record wicket-holder in Women ODI cricket reckoned that it is the best news that she had heard amidst the pandemic.

“Initially, being at home was tough and depressing not now that we have qualified, there is something to look forward to. It is not the same as being in the field but I am enjoying my early morning training session in my colony compound.” She added.

The 2021 World Cup will be a swansong for veterans like Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami and the Women in Blue will hope to finally break the hoodoo and give a befitting farewell to the two champion cricketers.

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