Ahead Of Their Lucrative T20 Women’s League, India Are On The Cusp Of Sustained Success

A giddy Jay Shah, Indian cricket chief and the sport’s de facto leader, couldn’t contain his excitement in the terraces at the picturesque Newlands ground in Cape Town.

It was hard to fault him momentarily shedding diplomacy with India seemingly on the cusp of mowing down a hefty target of 173 in a tense women’s T20 World Cup semi-final against all-conquering Australia.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, having overcome a fever to play, and a fluent Jemimah Rodrigues combined for an aggressive half-century partnership to rattle defending champions Australia, who uncharacteristically looked bereft of answers.

Shah gave a thumbs up when Kaur notched her half-century and she just needed to keep her cool in order for India to conjure a monumental upset over Australia, who were bidding their seventh straight final.

But India’s hopes evaporated when Kaur was run-out in comical fashion when her bat stuck in the pitch as she tried to make her ground. A dejected Kaur couldn’t believe it and she threw her bat in disgust as she trudged off the ground.

She knew India’s prospects had sunk with her dismissal and, despite a game effort, Kaur was right. India fell short to lose by five runs with a jubilant Australia feeling rather relieved that they escaped with victory.

India will feel bitterly disappointed having proved they can match mighty Australia. But sloppy fielding proved costly with Australia able to muster a huge total in the backend.

Marked by Kaur’s dismissal, India couldn’t quite keep their composure but when disappointment subsides they’ll feel buoyed. India aren’t far away from trendsetters Australia and the gap is narrowing as the years roll by.

India, who lost the 2020 T20 World Cup final played in front of 85,000 fans at the MCG, are making strides after development into women’s cricket was slower compared to pioneers Australia and England.

But the Shah-led India’s governing body have sensed the momentum in women’s sport globally with cricket also part of this wave. India’s women cricketers now receive the same match payments as their male counterparts to signify the governing body’s seriousness.

The tournament is being played ahead of India’s new Women’s Premier League, which has been described as a game-changing development for women’s cricket. Top players are receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars to compete in a three-week tournament that will surely expand in the ensuing years.

The cashed-up T20 league has major financial investment after the sale of the five teams fetched $572 million on the back of Viacom 18 forking out 9.51 billion Indian rupees ($116 million) for the media rights for the next five years. The value per-game is around $1 million.

During the star-studded semi-final, there were marquee players of the WPL pitted against each other. India batter Smriti Mandhana, who received the highest WPL deal at $410,000, fell to Australia allrounder Ashleigh Gardner – next best with $387,000.

While Kaur was sold the Mumbai Indians for $218,000.

The WPL is set to blaze a trail for women cricketers worldwide but the biggest beneficiary will, of course, be India with the tournament set to develop their emerging youngsters.

It’s much like the plethora of local talent in the men’s Indian Premier League strengthening India’s enviable depth. They haven’t totally dominated across the formats, but India’s women might just be able to down the track given other Full Member nations have not yet adequately developed women’s cricket.

India will wake up knowing they fell agonizingly short of a fairy-tale ahead of the WPL, but should be emboldened by what’s ahead.

After all, it’s part of Jay Shah’s shrewd masterplan.