Page 3 - Women Cricket India

WPL 2024: Mithali Raj wants tournament to be played in different cities

Former India captain and Gujarat Giants mentor Mithali Raj said organising the Women's Premier League (WPL) in more than one city will help the teams develop new audience and enhance the tournament's profile. The first edition of the WPL was held only in Mumbai, but this time the BCCI is organising the tournament in Delhi and Bengaluru. "If WPL moves to every city, it gives the franchise a chance to develop a new audience, who can come and watch it play. This will only improve the profile of the tournament and the franchises," Mithali said in a Gujarat Giants release on Saturday. The former Indian skipper touched upon her role at Giants and said she was enjoying working with the team in a big platform like WPL. "I have been enjoying this role as mentor, working with young players, sharing my knowledge, helping them stay in a good space and perform their roles to the best of their ability," she said. Gujarat Giants are all set to open their campaign against defending champions Mumb

WPL 2024: Deepti always wanted to be a cop, appointed DSP in UP Police

It's not often that one gets to live a cherished professional dream after taking a completely different career path in life but Indian women's cricket team all-rounder Deepti Sharma counts herself among the lucky few after being appointed a DSP in Uttar Pradesh Police, something that she aspired for as a child. Sharma, who hails from Agra, was named a DSP in UP Police last month and was felicitated by state chief minister Yogi Adityanath with a cash prize of Rs 3 crore for her performances in the last couple of years. Sharma was part of the teams that won the Asian Games gold last year and the Commonwealth Games silver in 2022. "I always dreamt of becoming a police officer. I used to see that it is a difficult job but I always wanted to wear that uniform once and wanted to see how it felt," Sharma told PTI Video. "My parents also supported me that I should become a police officer. I and my family are really happy with this recognition," she said. The off-spinner was adjudged the ..

WPL 2024: Lanning credits league for improving domestic cricket standards

Despite entering its second year, the Women's Premier League (WPL) has already contributed immensely to improve the standard of domestic Indian players, reckoned Delhi Capitals captain Meg Lanning here on Thursday. Lanning, who has the experience of touring around the world for several other T20 leagues alongside winning five World Cups, has little doubt that the development of WPL and the players would hit the next level in the years to come. There's been some really significant improvement in the local Indian players from what I've seen so far. I think WPL has played a big role in that among other factors, Lanning said here ahead of the WPL opening fixture between Delhi and Mumbai Indians on Friday. It's (WPL) only going to get bigger every year. There are a lot of eyes on you as well. And for the Indian locals (players) in particular, it really gives them an opportunity to put their names up and perform well and then see where it goes from there. Talking about their tournament .

WPL 2024: Meet Fatima Jaffer; a fascinating rare ambidextrous bowler

Cricket runs in the blood for Fatima Jaffer, but the young Mumbai Indians player has walked a different route and defied the family tradition. The niece of former India and Mumbai batter Wasim Jaffer, Fatima is more drawn towards bowling, and that too in a quirky way. She is one of the rare ambidextrous bowlers in the Indian domestic circuit a right-arm medium pacer who can fill in the role of a left-arm spinner when the situation demands so. But her beginning as an ambidextrous bowler happened in a less than creditable circumstances. "I got into the Mumbai side as a right-arm pacer. But in the first match that I played, three of our spinners got called for chucking,' Fatima was quoted in the MI website. However, the unfortunate turn of events opened a door to Fatima. "My then coach knew that I used to practice left-arm spin, not as a profession, just for fun. So, he came up to me and asked me if I could bowl it in the match. "The first ever match I bowled in as a left-arm spin

WPL 2024: Jemimah wants to erase disappointment by winning title this time

Delhi Capitals vice-captain Jemimah Rodrigues said on Thursday it was difficult overcoming the loss to Mumbai Indians in the WPL title showdown last season and hoped that with this edition's final scheduled to be held in the national capital, her team would aim for the trophy. DC fell short in the title showdown, losing by seven wickets to MI at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai last season. "It was hard (losing the final). We were doing well throughout the tournament, and we had some amazing games. The one we really wanted to win the most; that didn't go in our favour," she told JioCinema. "But, that's sport. That's why we love playing. You win some, you lose some. It teaches you a lot -- to get back up and gives you another chance always. This (upcoming edition) is our other chance. Hopefully, this year on our home ground, we lift the WPL trophy." Jemimah added that working with Australian stalwart and DC skipper Meg Lanning had helped her understand the nuances of captaincy ...

From Ecclestone to Titas Sadhu: Top five bowlers to watch out in WPL 2024

A look at the top five contenders who could take home the Purple Cap by being leading wicket-takers in WPL 2024

From Mandhana to Athapaththu: Top five batters to watch out in WPL 2024

A look at the top five contenders who could take home the Orange Cap by being leading run-scorers and top batters in WPL 2024

Women's Premier League: Gujarat Giants SWOT analysis, schedule for WPL 2024

In India's Rana, Australians Mooney and Garnder and South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt, they have an experienced quartet which has played a lot of cricket at the highest level

Women's Premier League: UP Warriorz SWOT analysis, schedule for WPL 2024

With four world-class players in Healy, Deepti, Ecclestone and McGrath and a quality support cast in Grace Harris, Wyatt and young gun Dinesh, Warriorz are prime contenders

Women's Premier League: RCB SWOT analysis, schedule for WPL 2024

A batting-heavy team, RCB will enjoy their outing in front of their home crowd at the M Chinnswamy

WPL 2024: Original skipper Beth Mooney returns to captain Gujarat Giants

Australia's Beth Mooney will captain Gujarat Giants in the Women's Premier League beginning on February 23, the franchise announced on Wednesday. Mooney was named captain for the inaugural season as well but got injured after the first game and could not take further part in the competition. India all-rounder Sneh Rana had led the side in her absence. Rana has been named vice-captain for season two. Gujarat had finished last in the five-team competition in 2023. "They (Mooney and Rana) will be part of the leadership group with head coach Michael Klinger, mentor and advisor Mithali Raj, and assistant coach Nooshin Al Khadee," said the team in a statement. Gujarat Giants will open their campaign against Mumbai Indians in Bengaluru on February 25.

WPL 2024: Chamari Athapaththu reveals reactions after initial auction snub

Sri Lanka skipper and UP Warriorz player Chamari Athapaththu on Tuesday said that not being selected initially during the WPL auction for the second season surprised her, but rejections motivate her. The captain of the 'ICC women's ODI team of the Year 2023' and Women's Big Bash League's second-highest scorer Athapaththu was not picked in the auction held here in December, but was subsequently roped in by UP Warriorz after England's Lauren Bell pulled out from the WPL. "I was not shocked, I was surprised because they didn't pick me after the auction but these things are not in my control," Athapaththu said during a virtual interaction. "I think (about) what I can control, I don't want to take too much pressure on my shoulders because these decisions are taken by someone, some coaches, some (people in the) management. "I always think (about) what I can control, I can control my batting and my bowling. I take these decisions in good spirit and do my best. If someone asks me, 'are yo

WPL 2024: England women players in dilemma as T20Is against NZ looms ahead

England cricketers playing in the upcoming Women's Premier League (WPL) could be in a dilemma as staying back for the business end of the lucrative T20 League could lead to them missing out on their country's five-match T20I series in New Zealand. The final of WPL is scheduled for March 17 while the visiting England team's first T20I against New Zealand will be played in Dunedin on March 19. According to ESPNcricinfo, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has told players involved in the WPL that they will not be considered for the first three T20Is in New Zealand if they stay in India till the end of the T20 league. The ECB is expected to name the England squad next week. Seven England players are due to feature in WPL 2024: Alice Capsey (Delhi Capitals), Issy Wong and Nat Sciver-Brunt (Mumbai Indians), Kate Cross and Heather Knight (Royal Challengers Bangalore), Sophie Ecclestone and Danni Wyatt (UP Warriorz). Their salaries at WPL franchises range from Rs 30 lakh to Rs 3.2

India women's Test wins over ENG, AUS highest point of season: Muzumdar

India women's head coach Amol Muzumdar has said the Test wins at home against England and Australia were the "highest point" for his side during the gruelling season, where India also lost seven out of nine white-ball games. The coach also did not agree that skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was out of form with the bat despite six consecutive single-digit scores, while conceding fitness, decision-making and DRS calls were areas of concern for the side. India lost the T20I series to England 1-2 before going down to Australia 0-3 and 1-2 in ODIs and T20Is respectively, but they excelled in the longest format, winning the one-off Tests against the two sided by big margins. "The biggest positive is the girls have responded really nicely in all the formats. Whether it was Test cricket we played Test cricket after nine years in India not many had played red-ball cricket till then. Those two Test matches were the highest point," Muzumdar said during a media interaction at DY Patil Stadium after

IND W vs AUS W 3rd T20 Preview: India eye home series win over Australia

The culmination of a long and mixed home season brings the Indian women's cricket team one last opportunity to register a maiden T20I series triumph over Australia at home when the two sides square off in the series-decider here on Tuesday. With the three-match affair levelled 1-1, Harmanpreet Kaur's India have a chance to beat the reigning world champions Australia in their own den and kick off the 2024 T20I World Cup year in style. India have only one series win to show against Australia's four in their five-series bilateral T20I history. Their triumph in an away affair in 2015-16 sits atop in the list of achievements for this side. However, having registered historic wins in one-off Tests earlier this season against both Australia and England, India would want to make this one last opportunity count. India were on a roll in the first game and thrashed Australia by a record margin of nine wickets but their batters cut a sorry figure in the second. A tricky pitch here at the DY Pa

IND vs AUS T20s: Deepti's all-round show in vain as Australia level series

Deepti Sharma's all-round effort went in vain as Australia cantered to a six-wicket win against India in the second women's T20 to level the three-match series here on Sunday. After India's frontline batters cut a sorry figure squandering starts, Deepti made a vital 31 to push the team's total to 130/8. She then produced a fine spell of 4-0-22-2 to delight a nearly-packed house here at the DY Patil Stadium, but India just did not have enough on the board to challenge Australia. With 15 needed to win off 12 balls, Phoebe Litchfield (18 not out off 12 balls, 3x4s) struck two fours in first three balls of the penultimate over from Shreyanka Patil to dash India's hopes. Playing her 300th international game across formats, the legendary Ellyse Perry celebrated the feat with a fine knock of 34 not out (21 balls, 3x4s, 2x6s) and took Australia over the line with a six to win the game. Australia knocked off 47 runs from the target in the powerplay with both Beth Mooney and Alyssa Healy (2

Jhulan's 'just bowl fast' mantra works wonders for Titas Sadhu and India

India pacer Titas Sadhu said the legendary Jhulan Goswami has been a big part of her life and her advice to concentrate on "just bowling fast" is a principle that the 19-year-old follows everyday. Titas joined Goswami in recording one of the most successful spells for any Indian bowler in T20Is against Australia here on Friday, returning 4-0-17-4 to set up a commanding nine-wicket win in the first T20I. Titas' spell was the first time an Indian bowler had taken four or more wickets since Goswami's 3.5-1-11-5 against Australia at Visakhapatnam in March 2012. "I can tell you one thing. That was the first conversation I had with Jhulan di and she told me stop thinking about everything else, just bowl fast'. "'Because if you're a fast bowler, you have to bowl fast', and I think that has been a key,"Titas said after the match. Titas said Goswami has been a constant presence in her life. "Jhulan Goswami has been a big part of my life because I first saw her when I was 13 and then she h

IND W vs AUS W 1st T20I Playing 11, live match time, live streaming details

India Women vs Australia Women 1st T20I Playing 11: Shafali Varma and Saika Ishaque mind their names in the team sheet of India

IND W vs AUS W: India captain Harmanpreet answers critics on team fitness

India skipper skipper Harmanpreet Kaur on Thursday said quick fixes in the fielding and fitness department were not possible but her team will plug those gaps eventually with the help of a recently appointed full-time support staff. The team has struggled with fielding and fitness issues for a long time. As India Women prepare to take on Australia in a three-match T20 series starting here on Friday, the focus is on how Harmanpreet ends her poor run with the bat following six single-digit scores in nine outings. Also, India dropped a total of eight catches over the last two ODIs seven in the second match itself in their 0-3 loss to the mighty Aussies. If we talk about the team's performance, we are playing very good cricket in patches. Fielding and fitness are something that we have been talking about for a long time. We have been working on it too, Kaur told the media. Amol Muzumdar, who was appointed the team's head coach in late October, informed in his first press conference

India must learn from Australia, says Rodrigues after ODI whitewash

Jemimah Rodrigues on Tuesday urged the India women's cricket team to take a leaf out of Australia's book and bounce back in the upcoming T20s after being hammered in the ODIs. India suffered their third heaviest loss by 190 runs in the third ODI here on Tuesday at the Wankhede Stadium to be whitewashed in a three-match series for the second time by Australia since 2018. Rodrigues said while there were a "lot of learning points" from a team as dominant as Australia, she also hoped for better returns for her team in the shortest format. A three-match T20I series will be played at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai starting January 5. Obviously, there's a lot of learning points. When we reflect back on our own game and also the way the Aussies played, (in) the Test match we completely dominated them, but what I would learn is the way they got back after a fall, Rodrigues told the media here after the match. This is something I can, (and) as a team we can learn, to come back stronger