Former Indian ladies’s cricket captain Anjum Chopra. File
| Photo Credit: V. Sudershan
Former India captain Anjum Chopra is a bit disillusioned that almost all franchises have opted for international players in management roles in the inaugural WPL, saying succesful Indian players should have been handed the duty.
The Women’s Premier League begins on Saturday with a conflict between Gujarat Giants and Mumbai Indians in the opening match on the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy right here.
“I didn’t like that most of the teams have opted for foreign players as captains because it’s an Indian league and will be played in Indian conditions, so Indian players should have been captains if they have capabilities,” she mentioned.
Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore opted for Indian captains in Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana respectively, whereas the opposite groups went with Australian players — Meg Lanning (Delhi Capitals), Beth Mooney (Gujarat Giants) and Alyssa Healy (UP Warriorz) in management roles.
“I thought Deepti Sharma should have been made the captain as she led in the last Women’s T20 Challenge,” Chopra mentioned in a digital interplay.
Chopra, nevertheless, agreed that six-time T20 World Cup winners Australia have extra skilled players in comparison with India.
“Australian players are world champions and they have the experience of leading sides back home.
“I utterly agree with their (Australian players) expertise (on the worldwide stage), and so Jemimah Rodrigues cannot turn into a captain forward of Meg Lanning in the identical group (Delhi Capitals). If I take a look at the massive image, the Indian players do not have a lot captaincy potential like Australian players.” The 45-year-old cricketer-turned-commentator feels the performances of rookie domestic players will be the key factor as foreign players are already known entities.
“The problem is at all times going to be for Indian players since you are enjoying a franchise match at residence.
“This is a professional sport, you are contracted for a certain amount. Everything is relatively new, the more the players play, the more they will learn to adapt to situations. “I undoubtedly really feel that how the home players will match in and begin contributing might be key.” Chopra said it will be a great chance for the domestic players to rub shoulders with the greats of the game and make a statement.
“…the larger image I’m is a few U-19 participant, coming straightaway from successful a U-19 World Cup and getting an entry into franchise cricket the place you’ll get the prospect to rub shoulders with the likes of Meg Lanning, Beth Mooney, Harmanpreet Kaur.
“For them, it is such a big thing so we have to see how Indian domestic players perform, foreign players we know, but we don’t know what Indian domestic players will do.” Chopra feels the WPL might be a game-changer for Indian ladies’s cricket.
“It’s been a long journey but to see finally that the league is happening was a nice and different feeling.
“It’s not about beating Australia, it is about first changing into higher as a person, then solely we will come collectively in a group setting.
“Australia, England, and New Zealand are teams which have been challenging Indian cricket for years, so a tournament like this will definitely help,” she mentioned.
