Mithali Raj Expects To Have A Full-Fledged IPL For Women In The Next Two Years

As Mithali Raj gears up to lead the Velocity against Supernovas in the opening match of Women’s T20 Challenge in Sharjah, she hopes for a full-fledged IPL in the next two years. As the men’s IPL is on the verge of concluding, the Women’s T20 tournament will kickstart its journey on Wednesday and will continue till the ninth. Mithali Raj remains hopeful that the continuation of Women’s T20 challenge will pave the way for women’s IPL in the next couple of years.

The women’s cricket has increased its fan following, especially since the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup when India put on a promising display. While India lost the final convincingly in Melbourne to hosts Australia, their burgeoning performances got acknowledged and experts called for women’s IPL to be introduced to promote women’s cricket further.

Mithali Raj conceded that it is essential for the Women’s T20 Challenge to continue and in a couple of years, they should have the women’s IPL. The 37-year old reckons that the platform becomes a breeding ground for youngsters to interact with each other and overseas players, thereby improving the standard of domestic structure.

“Well I think it is important as if there is a continuation of this tournament, then I guess in another 2 years time we can have a full-fledged IPL for women. It is important that there is a continuation from last year to this year and then next year. So that it becomes a yearly tournament and every year we have this platform for the young girls and other domestic players to interact with each other and other overseas players. It sort of creates a good vibe and also improves the standard of our domestic structure,” Raj told Sports Today.

“I am curious to see how we as players have adapted to the new norm of quarantine” : Mithali Raj

Raj further said that unlike the previous tournaments, they have the luxury of having few matches under their belt. However, on this occasion, the players have to come straight into the contest. India women’s ODI skipper is keen to see how the players adapt to the challenges of quarantine and staying in a bio-secure bubble.

“Honestly from the players point of view, we usually have the luxury of coming from a season or having a few matches under our belt. But this is straight away into the tournament, so even as players this is something new for us, but even I am curious to see how we as players have adapted to the new norm of quarantine and coming into the bio-bubble,” she added.

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