WPL changed conversations around women's cricket, says Smriti Mandhana

The star batter, who was adjudged ICC ODI women's cricketer of the year and BCCI Women's Cricketer of the Year 2024, had led the RCB to the WPL triumph last year.

Bengaluru: There's little doubt about the positive change the Women's Premier League has brought to women's cricket in the world and Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Smriti Mandhana hoped to see similar success stories in other disciplines.

Mandhana, who was adjudged the ICC ODI women's cricketer of the year and the BCCI Women's Cricketer of the Year 2024, had led the RCB to the WPL triumph last year.

“We used to play in the Big Bash League etc even before the WPL, and everyone used to ask us when we would have our own league, and the WPL came and changed the conversations around women’s cricket,” Mandhana said during unveiling the report — Sports-Forward Nation.

Mandhana continued: “The IPL has done a lot for men’s cricket, and it’s like wow, the WPL can do something similarly to women’s cricket. Similarly, it will be inspiring to witness stories like these (WPL) coming from across other disciplines as well."

While expressing her delight at the progress women’s sport has made in the country in recent years, Mandhana said she wanted more penetration at grass roots level.

“My ultimate dream is to see two women’s teams playing some gully sport and fully enjoying it. If that happens then we can say we have inspired girls to take up a sport and that will be a win for us in our life as sportspersons,” she noted.

Rajesh Menon, the Chief Operating Officer of the RCB, emphasised on the improvement of participation at grassroots level for the country to develop as a sporing power.

“We need more involvement and investment at the grassroots level. But to be a champion nation in sport, we need to provide our athletes with the right environment for development. It requires right decisions by the stakeholders at the right time,” said Menon.