The third season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) is coming up, and Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain of India and Mumbai Indians, believes it will be very important for preparing for the ODI World Cup that India will host later this year. Harmanpreet shared that this WPL is key because after the tournament, the team will have time to focus on fitness.
Harmanpreet also praised India’s Under-19 women’s team for winning their second T20 World Cup in Malaysia, saying it’s a proud moment for everyone.
To make the press conference more special, Harmanpreet, MI coach Charlotte Edwards, mentor and bowling coach Jhulan Goswami, and all-rounder S Sajana arrived in a local Mumbai taxi driven by a woman.
Jhulan talked about the strength of the MI squad, mentioning the exciting new player, 16-year-old wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini, who was bought for ₹1.6 crore during the 2024 mini-auction. She noted the quality of the team and highlighted young players who performed well in domestic cricket.
MI coach Charlotte Edwards gave an update on Indian seamer Pooja Vastrakar, who is currently injured. She mentioned they will make a decision on Pooja’s fitness soon since she has been an important player for MI.
Jhulan pointed out how the WPL has changed the mindset of domestic players, who now want to impress scouts and have a chance to play in the league. She observed a renewed eagerness among players in domestic cricket to play well.
The growing popularity of WPL means more recognition for women cricketers. Jhulan shared that in regions where there was little attention in the past, cricket now attracts interest, with fans keen to know about upcoming WPL events.
This season, unlike the first, will be held at four venues: Vadodara, Bengaluru, Lucknow, and Mumbai.
Harmanpreet reflected on her strong ties to Mumbai, saying that time is very valued there. She recalled her positive experiences playing in Mumbai and expressed excitement about playing in front of fans again.
Jhulan echoed Harmanpreet’s views, noting that the WPL inspires young girls and motivates them, which is the goal of the league. With the ODI World Cup approaching, all eyes will be on how the WPL helps prepare the team for this big event.
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