Women's cricket is heading in the right direction

IT WAS A LONG TIME COMING, but it seems set for a long innings.

- NEERU BHATIA

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: MEG LANNING captain, Australia and Delhi Capitals Women

After much deliberation and nudging from cricketers within and outside India, the BCCI finally launched the Women’s Premier League. The tournament, with five teams, has seen engaging cricket and great crowds—30,000 fans turned up to watch the Mumbai Indians Women take on the Royal Challengers Bangalore Women on a Tuesday afternoon at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on March 21.

The league has its own advertisers, the teams their own sponsors, and while it is not at the scale of the Indian Premier League, no one is complaining. Certainly not women cricketers past and present. In an exclusive interview, Meg Lanning, seven-time World Cup-winner and captain of Australia and Delhi Capitals Women, talks about her experience in the WPL, playing with young Indian cricketers and her thoughts on the future of the game.

Q/ How was your experience of connecting with young Indian players such as Titas Sadhu or Arundhati Reddy?

A/ (Smiles) It was quiet initially. I think everyone was a little bit shy and unsure about coming together, but over the past few weeks we have really gelled as a team. Everyone is really friendly, and looking to engage, learn and ask questions. That has helped our performances on the field. They have made my job easy as a leader.

Q/ How was the communication on field with the young Indian girls?