Editorial: Dash of girl power for cricket

CHENNAI: Could the script have been any better in the legendary Jhulan Goswami’s farewell match in international cricket? Probably not. At England’s impregnable fortress, the Lord’s in London, the India women’s team completed a 3-0 whitewash of the host to enjoy a watershed moment. In the 50-over assignment, India not only defeated one of the dominant forces in women’s cricket – England is a four-time World Cup winner – but also ripped it apart on its own land. The numbers do not lie.

But, it is a shame that the endless talk about the run-out at the non-striker’s end in the third and final ODI – Deepti Sharma dismissed Charlie Dean at a crucial juncture to hand the visitor the victory – has marred India’s phenomenal achievement. The clean sweep was India’s first bilateral ODI series triumph over England in England in 23 years. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Co deserve every bit of credit that is coming their way, for the team was facing its first real test in the post-Mithali Raj era.

Keen observers of the game have remarked that it would be nothing short of a miracle if women’s cricket in India could produce another bowler like Jhulan Goswami. Armed with the temerity to shoulder an entire nation’s assault plan for close to two decades, Goswami was one half of the terrific twosome comprising Mithali Raj, who elevated the quality of Indian women’s cricket – from the boondocks to the glitzy arenas. Thanks to her, an entire brigade of women in India have been inspired to take up pace bowling which is deemed to be one of the most demanding facets of cricket.

Going forward, the team will have to adapt to life in the absence of both Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami, the poster girls of Indian women’s cricket for a number of years. And although it may be near impossible to produce the next Mithali or Jhulan, the BCCI has the power and resources to nurture a line of talent who could make India a world beater in white-ball cricket.

To start with, the Board has to introduce a full-fledged Indian Premier League, whose tagline reads ‘where talent meets opportunity, for women immediately. A mere four matches – in the name of Women’s T20 Challenge that usually runs parallel to the men’s IPL play-offs – are just not enough. But, even in those limited amount of games, a few players have risen, with batter Kiran Navgire being a case in point.

The Big Bash League and The Hundred have done a world of good to women cricketers in Australia and England – the traditional powerhouses in the sport – respectively, so why not host an IPL? The BCCI need not worry about interest from the franchises that own the men’s IPL teams, with a minimum of five reportedly ready to throw their hat in the ring.

Interestingly, Knight Riders and Royals already own teams in a women’s franchise-based competition – the Women’s Caribbean Premier League. The sooner we have a women’s IPL, the better for players, who will hugely benefit not only in terms of exposure but also monetarily. The ball is now in the BCCI’s court.