Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Smriti Mandhana has highlighted the growing importance of the Women’s Premier League. She said a standout season in the WPL can quickly push young players into India’s T20 World Cup plans later this year.
Mandhana spoke ahead of the new WPL season. She was addressing the media along with Mumbai Indians skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. The Indian opener said the WPL has become a key platform for talent identification. With a major ICC event approaching, performances in the league matter more than ever.
She made it clear that strong displays rarely go unnoticed by selectors. Players who perform consistently in pressure situations put themselves firmly in the race for national selection.
“If there is an exciting talent and someone has an extraordinary season, I am sure there will be a place in the T20 World Cup as well,” Smriti Mandhana said.
WPL pushing players closer to international level
Mandhana also admitted that good performances alone do not guarantee selection. Team balance, roles, and combinations remain important. Still, she stressed that a strong WPL season always strengthens a player’s case.
“She (Harmanpreet) will second that. But again, it depends on where she will fit. The doors are never closed, and if you actually have a good WPL, especially in the T20 format, you always have a chance, particularly with the T20 World Cup coming up,” Mandhana said.
She further explained how the WPL helps players grow. The competition forces Indian cricketers out of their comfort zones. It also reduces the gap between domestic and international cricket.
“Whenever we play for India, we always discuss how we want to be the best team in the world. Not for one or two tournaments, but for the whole year. Every WPL is just getting us closer to that,” she said.
Harmanpreet Kaur echoed similar thoughts. She said India is no longer satisfied with winning just one tournament.
“We are not satisfied with just one World Cup. We have so much cricket coming up, and every time we go to the field, we want to go with the best mindset that winning mindset”, Harmanpreet said.
She added that younger players are now thinking like champions.
“It is good to see that not only us, but other players are also speaking about how we want to be champions all the time. That shows WPL has made a lot of impact,” Harmanpreet said.
With the T20 World Cup nearing, the upcoming WPL season will be watched closely. For young players, it is a golden opportunity to impress and earn a place on the biggest stage.
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