Brand WPL is a success. Fan engagement surrounding the tournament is evidence of how it has now struck a chord with the masses. Corporates have come forward, and in that sense, serious strides have been made. The WPL, may I say, has made sure that no young girl will be stopped from playing cricket while growing up in India. And no neighbour will have the audacity to abuse aspiring women cricketers.
For girls in the West, playing cricket or any sport for that matter is a very natural progression. If they wish to pursue a career in sport, they do so from a very early age. Education and sport go hand in hand. Most universities have sports facilities that allow talent to flower. In India, it is not so. In our country, there are a number of social injustices that women are confronted with, and have to deal when growing up. Shafali Verma, for example, had to dress up like a boy to be able to play the sport. Her cohorts wouldn’t allow a girl to play cricket, and Shafali was left with no other choice but to dress up like a boy.
I am not for once saying that the mission is accomplished. We need matches played in a home-and-away format like the IPL. We need more teams and more corporate involvement. The story is yet to reach its logical conclusion. Equality is still not achieved, and that’s the truth. But the start, which was made three years ago, has indeed gathered momentum and that’s what gives me hope.
If the brand is turning robust with each season, the sport in India isn’t. A cursory glance indicates that no Indian star except Harmanpreet Kaur was able to do justice to their potential. With the World Cup just months away, that’s where the cause for concern is. Smriti Mandhana, after a bright start, failed to stand up to the pressure and her captaincy was below par. Shafali, despite good starts, never converted. The 80 against RCB was an aberration.
Deepti Sharma had a poor tournament and was a big letdown. Richa Ghosh was no more than average, while Jemimah Rodrigues was consistently inconsistent. Harleen Deol was perhaps the only ray of hope among the batters currently playing for India.
The bowling too wasn’t any better. Renuka Singh did not do much, while Tanuja Kanwar was perhaps the only saving grace with 8 wickets. Titas Sadhu, expected to be a star for India, did not get many opportunities and may be lost out as a result.
Overall, it was yet again Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Matthews, Amelia Kerr, Ash Gardner or Ellyse Perry who made the headlines. That’s where it feels a little baffling. When we look at the IPL almost every season has thrown up talent that has soon after made it big in the national team. Abhishek Sharma, Harshit Rana and Tilak Verma are the examples from the last two editions. Why it’s not the same for the women’s game may help us explain why India is yet to win major silverware at the international level. Harmanpreet needs support, and we just don’t see that coming despite three successful seasons of the WPL.
Also Read: Meg Lanning’s decision to ignore Jess Jonassen proof that even the very best slip up
The post Brand WPL is a success, but what about the Indian women’s game? appeared first on Sports News Portal | Latest Sports Articles | Revsports.
