Harmanpreet Kaur, captain of India and the Mumbai Indians, claimed that the WPL, which ran from March 4 to March 26, would alter lives and elevate the level of cricket in the country.
As the Women's Premier League (WPL) debuts in Mumbai on Saturday, with the Gujarat Giants and Mumbai Indians playing the opening match, it marks the beginning of a new chapter for many.
Sneha Deepthi, a top-order batswoman for the Delhi Capitals and a mother of a two-year-old, has the option to return to professional cricket at age 26. The 28-year-old batswoman for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Poonam Khemnar, recalls the hostility she received from her parents for pursuing cricket.
Meg Lanning, the 32-year-old captain of the Delhi Capitals and Australian legend, retired after leading her team to the Commonwealth Games gold medal victory in August of last year. She spent her time travelling and even worked as a barista and dishwasher in a cafe. Last month, she led Australia to the women's T20 World Championship, her fifth World Cup victory, four in T20s and one in ODIs.
Nat Sciver-Brunt, 30, will play for the Mumbai Indians. She recently took a hiatus to "concentrate on her mental health and well-being." She returned from her hiatus as England's vice-captain for the T20 World Cup, where she ended with the second-most runs.
In an IPL-like competition with a Rs 951 crore broadcasting agreement, these women are among the close to 100 Local and foreign players representing five franchise clubs with a combined net worth of Rs 4,670 crores.
Harmanpreet Kaur, captain of India and the Mumbai Indians, claimed that the WPL, which ran from March 4 to March 26, would alter lives and elevate the level of cricket in the country. "We are also going to acquire some good talent, and I'm sure the gap between India and Australia will decrease," said Kaur, who played a remarkable knock in India's narrow World T20 semi-final loss to Australia last month.
"For a very long time, we have been pushing the doors... WPL will significantly alter women's cricket. Jemimah Rodrigues, the key batswoman for the Delhi Capitals and one of the ten Indian women with deals worth one crore or more, predicted that the league would produce a number of superstars.
A few parents also assisted in opening the doors. In Rohtak, Haryana, Shafali Verma's parents shaved her head so she could pass as a boy and compete in local tournaments. Shafali went on to become the youngest Indian player, male or female. India won the maiden Women's U-19 World Cup under her leadership.
For Delhi Capitals, Shafali's opening partner might be Sneha, who made her India debut in 2013 with Smriti Mandhana, the league's highest-earning player and RCB captain. Sneha's cricketing career failed to take off, and at the age of 22, she wed. She has recently made a successful return to the home circuit, secured a Rs 30 lakh WPL contract, and desires to once again represent India.
In a heartbreaking video released on the Delhi Capitals' website, Sneha expresses her apprehension over leaving her baby behind. When I was leaving, she began to cry. I questioned whether or not I ought to go. My husband advised me to proceed despite the fact that I found it quite challenging. After entering my hotel room, I called her husband to inquire about her whereabouts... "She said 'baaga aadu' in Telugu, which means 'play well there'," she adds in the video.
For several players, the WPL is a time to mourn and miss deceased loved ones. Sneh Rana, 29, vice-captain of the Gujarat Giants, said of her late father, "I can't express how much I miss him," even as she expressed her family's elation at her accomplishment.
Her India colleague and UP Warriorz all-rounder Devika Vaidya stated that she has decided to retire at the age of 21 after her mother's passing in 2019. The Covid-19 lockdown prompted her to reconsider her future. "I realised that my mother is constantly at my side, regardless of whether I am playing, not playing, crying, laughing, or winning matches. "Now that I have accepted this reality, it is simple for me to deal with it," she stated.
Another India player, Renuka Singh Thakur of Royal Challengers Bangalore, has a tattoo depicting a father playing with his daughter, which she got in memory of her father, Kehar Singh Thakur, who died in 1999. "I got this tattoo with the first payment I earned from cricket. I have missed him at every stage of my life, including my first day of school, my first state match, and my international debut, she explained.
Content Source:-https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/cricket-history-in-india-today-womens-premier-league-begins-8478302/
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