Domestic Stars And Young Guns In Focus

IN a cricketing calendar, a year is a long time. Not just for a player or a team but the sport itself.

- GOMESH S

A lot happens in 12 months, and a lot changes too. It was like yesterday when Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Delhi Capitals to win the 2024 edition of the Women's Premier League, but the next season is already here, beginning in Vadodara on Friday.

In the time since Smriti Mandhana lifted that coveted trophy at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, a lot has happened in the realm of the women's game. New Zealand won their first T20 World Cup, India defended their U19 World Cup title as the way the shortest format is approached by the players slowly, but steadily, changing especially in India.

From its inception in 2023, WPL has served as a platform for players to grab their moment on the big stage and move forward towards their dream of playing for India. At the same time, perhaps, the biggest impact it has had was showing the cricketers who toiled day in and day out in domestic cricket what they need to do to get to the next level. And more importantly, how to do it. And the results are already starting to show in the way teams bat in domestic cricket.