India women’s national cricket team

While we always talk about the Indian men’s cricket team, the transformation of the India Women’s cricket team over the years has been nothing short of spectacular. Contrary to men’s cricket, women’s cricket arrived quite late in India through the formation of the Women’s Cricket Association of India (WCAI) in 1973.  The Women’s cricket team of India played their first-ever Test game against West Indies in 2976 and, more importantly, recorded their first win in 1978 that too against the Caribbean side. 

Though men’s cricket dominates the Indian sports arena, the Indian women’s cricket team has slowly but steadily carved a niche for themselves, credit to their relentless hard work and excellence fueled by hunger. 

Early days and rise in the global cricketing setup

Despite playing their first-ever game in 2976, India’s women’s cricket team never enjoyed the level of limelight and attention of the men’s team. However, the 2005 Women’s World 2005 changed everything when India defied the odds and reached the final of the tournament. They missed out on triumphing in the pinnacle clash, but their performance throughout the entire extravaganza proved that they have the ability and potential to compete at the highest level of the game. 

2017 Women’s ODI World Cup

The Women’s ODI World Cup 2017, played in England, marked another example when the Indian contingent under the dynamic batter Harmanpreet Kaur showed off what they are capable of. 

However, disappointment landed on their side again as the hosts triumphed over the Indian side by nine runs in the final game at Lord’s. 

Introduction of Women’s Premier League (WPL): The game changer 

It would not be wrong to underestimate the crucial role the Women’s Premier League is playing in transforming the tapestry of India’s women’s cricket. WPL is not just providing monetary backup to the unsurfaced talents; it is also helping them nurture and prepare for the global level by handing them a good chunk of exposure. 

Though it can not be denied that the WPL arrived quite late, it is a good sign as this tournament will only strengthen India’s domestic cricket pipeline and will lay down a solid base for the upcoming generation of players. One of the biggest benefits of WPL is the discovery of new and raw talent, which can be further groomed into world-class players and a vital asset for the nation. 

The Indian women’s cricket team has often faltered in high-pressure situations, and that’s where WPL becomes more crucial. The high-stakes encounter of the tournament will nurture the upcoming players to shift their gears accordingly, which could ultimately become a good prospect for the national team. 

For years, Indian women’s cricket has often lagged behind its arch-rivals like England and Australia. The major behind this was the lack of a properly structured league. The WPL is the counter of Australia’s Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), which has given them quite good players over time. 

Lack of ICC trophies despite talent: A major dent in India Women’s cricket journey 

Despite being so good and dominating many times, the absence of any ICC trophy in the India Women’s cricket team cabinet is a dark chapter they will surely want to pass through. The Indian women’s cricket team has failed thrice in the final of three ICC tournaments – the 2005 ODI World Cup final, the ODI World Cup 2017 final, and the ODI World Cup 2020 final. Unlike other cricketing giants like England and Australia, India still lacks a proper roadmap and structure for big and high-stakes tournaments. 

Despite producing world-class players like Jhulan Goswami, Mithali Raj, and Smriti Mandhana, the Women in Blue are often observed faltering in high-pressure games, which remains a major hurdle in their pursuit of an ICC title. 

Investment in Fast bowling 

While India’s women’s cricket has given many big batters to the cricketing world, a formidable fast-bowling setup remains a dream of theirs. The departure of Jhulan Goswami from the Indian team has left a void that still needs to be filled. 

Though their reliance on spin-bowling has worked on the subcontinent pitches, it has proven a big flaw for them in overseas encounters. This crucial factor makes it necessary for the Indian cricket management to invest more and more in the fast bowling department if they want to match the levels of their counterparts. 

Leadership factor

Another challenging point for the Indian women’s cricket team is to identify and start grooming the potential leaders of the future to avoid sudden leadership gaps. The next chunk of players, like Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma, have shown promising signs, not just as match-winners but as future captains as well. Exposing them to leadership opportunities in tournaments like WPL will surely help them hone their game reading and leadership skills. 

Conclusion

With a good infrastructure and a big pool of talented players, India’s national women’s cricket team stands on the brink of greatness. While some major factors still need to be addressed. It would not be easy for them to get past the issues that have haunted them in the past. With the right coaching and proper exposure, India has the caliber to produce world-class players, and they have shown it from time to time. 

With WPL being a crucial factor, the domestic setup for Indian women’s cricket needs more volume of leagues and constant gaming seasons for a more important base. With the growing prospects, increased investments, and the emergence of various other tournaments, the time has come for India to develop into a potential trophy house and establish itself as a dominant force in the realm of women’s cricket. Moreover, some grassroots programs and regular overseas tours of the India A team could also prove to be a game changer.