Smriti Mandhana Calls WPL a Game Changer for Women's Cricket

By: WE staff | Tuesday, 4 February 2025

• Smriti Mandhana hopes WPL’s success will inspire women in other sports.
• As captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Mandhana expressed enthusiasm for the WPL's impact on changing the narrative around women's cricket.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Smriti Mandhana shared her excitement for the Women's Premier League (WPL), saying it has changed the conversation around women's cricket and brought more attention to the sport.

Smriti led RCB to their first WPL title last year, making it a historic win for the team.

Smriti expressed excitement about the Women's Premier League (WPL), noting its impact on shifting the narrative around women's cricket.

She highlighted that the league has sparked new conversations and generated unprecedented interest in the sport. Smriti led RCB to their first WPL title last year, marking the team's historic win in franchise cricket.

Smriti aims to defend their title in WPL’s third season, starting February 14. She compared the WPL to the IPL, noting that it could have a similar impact on women's cricket as the IPL has had on men's cricket.

Rajesh Menon, RCB’s Chief Operating Officer, stressed the need for more grassroots involvement and investment to develop India into a sporting powerhouse. Rajesh emphasized that to become a champion nation in sports; athletes need the right development environment and timely decisions from stakeholders.

Smriti expressed delight over the progress of women’s sports in India in recent years. She emphasized the need for more grassroots-level involvement in women’s sports.

“Smriti’s ultimate dream is to see two women’s teams playing gully sports and enjoying it. She believes that inspiring girls to take up sports would be a major win for sportspeople like her.”