Smriti Mandhana, the captain of the RCB women’s team and vice-captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, recently expressed her thoughts on the potential influence of a multi-city format for the Women’s Premier League (WPL) during a discussion at the RCB Innovation Lab’s Leaders Meet India in Bengaluru last week.
Smriti Mandhana’s recent revelations at the RCB Innovation Lab’s Leaders Meet India in Bengaluru have set the stage for a thrilling transformation in women’s cricket. As the captain of the RCB women’s team, her vision for the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in a multi-city format not only sparks excitement but also raises the bar for the evolution of the sport, breaking through geographical confines and captivating a wider audience.
Mandhana’s support for the multi-city model in WPL echoes the potential for a game-changing shift in the women’s cricket landscape. Moving away from a single-city focus to embrace a multi-city format opens up new vistas, promising a more inclusive and expansive reach.
The idea of playing in iconic venues such as Chinnaswamy, where the infectious energy of ‘RCB RCB’ chants reverberates through the stadium, adds an extra layer of enthusiasm. The vibrant atmosphere not only uplifts the players but also acts as a magnetic force for fans, pulling them into the realm of women’s cricket with unprecedented zeal.
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Discussing the achievements of the WPL, Smriti Mandhana conveyed her excitement about the possibility of embracing a multi-city format during a groundbreaking summit. This event brought together key figures from diverse industries to explore the future of sports. She said, “It would be great to have WPL in the multi-city format. I think that might be the next step and I am sure the people right here would look into it and make it happen. As an RCB fan, I would love to play in Chinnaswamy where people are chanting ‘RCB RCB’ and just to be in that environment. That is something which is one step ahead for us that it (multi-city format) can reach to places where women’s cricket hasn’t reached and to get new audience going into women’s cricket.”
Speaking on the growth of women’s sports in India, Mandhana highlighted the remarkable achievements of women athletes in recent years. She emphasized the cultural shift, saying, “Women in India are doing amazing stuff in the last five to 10 years not only in women’s cricket but in women’s sport in general. If you see the last Olympics or Commonwealth or Asian Games, the kind of medals women’s athletes have gone and got for the country is a big inspiration for a lot of smaller city girls out there to pursue their passion. I think women’s sports in general should be treated separately and by doing that they can definitely sell a lot of things in terms of the ticketing or the digital rights.”
Mandhana puts women’s cricket in a fresh light by imagining a wide-reaching Women’s Premier League spanning numerous locations. In doing so, she promotes women’s cricket not merely as a sport but as a catalyst for good progress. The significance of this effort goes beyond the present participants, acting as a source of motivation for budding talents all around the country. It inspires them to dream boldly and earnestly pursue their cricketing aspirations.
