Beginning of good times for women’s cricket: Mithali

Reflecting on their reception, Mithali said it is the first of its kind for the entire team before admitting that coming under the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had made a huge difference to the women’s cricket. 

“Obviously, it is quite overwhelming to see such kind of reception. It is first of its kind for all of us. We got not exactly similar but a little lesser in 2005 because then we were not under the BCCI. 

At that time, I was wondering, had we would have been under BCCI, what kind of reaction we would have got? What kind of feedback we would get back home? I feel it is just a huge thing back home. I am sure the girls would have enjoyed being received like that. It is just the beginning of good times of women’s cricket,” Mithali said. 

When quizzed if it is the right time for the women’s Indian Premier League (IPL), the 34-year-old said that the way the entire team had performed throughout the tournament, the presence of such kind of league would only help in improving the standard of women’s cricket. 

“After going through the World Cup and the way women’s cricket have responded and improved the standard, they are taking it to different level, scoring more than 300. So, I am sure if something in that format, in that perspective is started in India, it will only help even the domestic players in terms of exposure,” she said. 

For inspiring the Indian team only to their second finals, first in 12 years, the Hyderabadi was also named the captain of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 team. Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma were the other two to be named in the side. 

Mithali was selected as captain after she led her side by example by scoring  409 runs in the 30-day  tournament. Reflecting on the same, the 36-year-old said, “Being named the captain of ICC team XI is privilege. I didn’t expect it. But I would have preferred to be a winning captain. 

Unfortunately that didn’t happen. But the way team has done, I can proudly say that I have led the team well. All credit to the team because the way the girls have responded to the challenges, the way I have asked them to perform and motivated them.”