Mithali Raj 'can't wait forever' for much-awaited 'Women's IPL', calls for its 2021 debut

India Women's ODI captain Mithali Raj has urged Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to fast-track its plans for Women's IPL and hold its first edition in 2021 itself. BCCI had been focusing on women's cricket with last two seasons of IPL in form of a mini Women's IPL through Women's T20 Challenge. India Women's cricket team recently missed out on winning Women's T20 World Cup in Australia, losing final to host nation at MCG in Melbourne.

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Women's IPL will help better India Women team: Mithali Raj

Many experts had called for a Women's IPL after India Women lost an under-pressure final against Australian team in recently held ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2020. Indian cricket great Sunil Gavaskar had also called for a Women's IPL as it would inflate India's pool of woman talent. Talking to a popular cricket portal, veteran female cricketer Mithali Raj has w expressed how BCCI should fast-track its plans by starting out on a small scale but gradually expanding in years to come. This is a view which was somewhat echoed by Indian cricket analyst and former player Sanjay Manjrekar, who suggested to play with 4 teams in its debut season.

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Raj suggested that BCCI could start tournament on a smaller scale with only 5-6 teams. Foreigner rules could also be altered to allow more foreign talent initially. Raj expressed how last year's Women's T20 Challenge helped her discover Shafali Verma, who turned out to be a hero for Indian team in Australia. Mithali Raj understands that  domestic pool lacks talent as of w but ODI captain believes that game can continue to grow through Women's IPL.

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IPL 2020 postponed: BCCI to take a call on Men's and Women's tournaments

IPL was supposed to be held from March 29 but coronavirus outbreak led to BCCI having IPL 2020 postponed to a date beyond April 15. Women's T20 Challenge was also being expanded to four teams and would be running during IPL playoffs. BCCI will w take its call on future of se tournaments after it observes status of COVID-19 in India.

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