New Delhi: Elegant India batter Smriti Mandhana feels that the Women’s Premier League (WPL) and the recent launches of different state leagues are proof that women’s cricket is in safe hands in the country and also financially viable at the same time. Mandhana was announced as the skipper of Ratnagiri Jets for the inaugural edition of the Women’s Maharashtra Premier League (WMPL), which began on Thursday (June 5) morning.
“I feel, for women’s cricket to have this sort of stage is amazing, and the very fact that state associations and also the WPL, the way they have supported it shows that, of course, women’s cricket can generate revenues, which is an amazing thing for women’s cricket,” a release issued by Ratnagiri Jets quoted Mandhana as saying.
Mandhana also highlighted how people are coming forward with investing money into women’s cricket as it becomes more professional with each passing day. “And people are ready to invest money into it. I mean, the more professional the sport gets, it’s only going to get better, especially for grassroots-level cricketers. For them, I think this is just amazing.
“So, from my point of view, of course, promotion is one thing, but I think we are well beyond that in women’s cricket. I see it as people being ready to invest, and that shows that women’s cricket is growing and people want to watch it,” she added.
Mandhana, the Indian women’s team vice-captain, was part of a media briefing on Wednesday, held by the franchise ahead of their season opener. Mandhana, with the owners Rajan and Rakesh Navani, visited the Kesari Wada Ganpati temple, where their match jersey was launched, which was followed by an opening ceremony including the performance of Bollywood actress Chitrangada Singh and a spectacular drone show at the end.
Bright future ahead
Mandhana, 28, said that the growing interest in the game promises a bright future for the next generation of players. “The best thing about India at this moment, with women’s cricket, is the investment that’s coming in and the investment they get to groom a player. I mean, very late in our careers, we realised the importance of fitness and all of those things,” Mandhana added.
She showed faith in the club and the initiative that they are only going to promote and help them understand more about what the actual need is, and was sure that they will be prepared well.
In their first game of the WMPL 2025, Ratnagiri Jets take on Raigad Royals at the MCA Stadium in Pune on Thursday evening. Meanwhile, the tournament started with a clash between the Solapur Smashers and the Pune Warriors at the same venue, where the latter won by five wickets.
Smriti Mandhana will captain the women’s section of Ratnagiri Jets in the inaugural edition Women’s Maharashtra Premier League (WMPL) which kicked off on Thursday. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
