IPL with 5-6 teams will be great for women's cricket, feels Smriti Mandhana

Swashbuckling India opener Smriti Mandhana feels a full-fledged women's Indian Premier League (IPL) can make a difference in tapping talent which would help national team do well at global level. 23-year-old opener also ackwledged efforts BCCI is putting in to make it a reality. " BCCI has put in a lot of effort, first we had an exhibition match kind of women's IPL two years ago n re was a very successful IPL with three teams. And this year it was supposed to be four teams," Mandhana said on BBC podcast ' Doosra'. "I'm sure a lot of IPL style matches will take place for a year or two. A  five or six-team IPL for women will be great for Indian women's cricket specially for World Cups," she added.

Smriti Mandhana on an IPL for women

southpaw hopes gap between domestic and international cricket that exists in women's cricket in country right w will be bridged soon. "Women's cricket in Indian is growing massively, specially domestic circuit. But re's still a lot of  gap between competition between international and domestic circuit which I think will be bridged in 2-3 years." Indian women's team has taken huge strides since entering ir maiden final of a World Cup in 2017 and coach WV Raman feels side has potential to become best team in three years.

Asked if she feels same Mandhana said "We've grown a lot as a team specially after 2017 WC. T20 format is t one of our strengths before but we have done reasonably well in last two World Cups."

"t just this one in Australia, but one we played in West Indies was a very good World Cup unfortunately we lost to England. What Raman sir said will happen. But I can't say in how many years maybe next year or in 3-4 years or 5 years but I'm certain it will happen," she added.

Mandhana, who was awarded ICC's woman's cricketer of year in 2019, also recalled an anecdote she shared with Indian men's team skipper Virat Kohli that inspired her. "I spoke to Virat in New Zealand last year. Both of us had got ICC award he said 'Your team can do something in India that men's team can't. That is  change culture of women in India and that you all as team have a big role to play in future. Whenever you feel like a gym session think that you can inspire a generation of women to take up sports.'

Im credits: PTI