Right time for women’s IPL, says Mithali Raj

Indian women’s team skipper Mithali Raj believes that it is time India start doing well and the World Twenty20 is the best tournament to do it. The 33-year-old believes a good show in the premier T20 event may lead to a women’s IPL. “There is a lot happening in women’s cricket. World Twenty20 very important to popularise women’s cricket more. If we do really well that will lead to the women’s IPL,” she said ahead of India’s tour to Australia. Mithali felt women’s cricket had a better following now and it was the right time to introduce a women’s IPL “It is a good time for that. Women’s cricket has developed some following with the advent of Twenty20 cricket and televised games. IPL will be good if marketed in a better way. I guess the women’s Big Bash has been good for Australian cricket from the feedback I got from a few players there,” she said.

The Indian mainstay in batting said she didn’t play in the Big Bash as it clashed with the domestic season. “Jhulan Goswami and I had offers from Adelaide. But Big Bash clashed with our domestic season. It is important to play domestic as we don’t get many matches at international level.”