Oval: Indian women’s T20I captain Harmanpreet Kaur said she is hopeful and eagerly waiting for the women’s Indian Premier League (IPL) to happen soon. Harmanpreet became the first Indian to be named WBBL Player of the Tournament.
Following a dominant season for Melbourne Renegades after scoring 399 runs in the tournament at an average of 66.50 and strike-rate of 135.25, including three match-winning half-centuries.
“I think we have been looking at this for a long time and I hope, you know, sooner this women’s IPL will also start and we will also invite overseas players over there so that they can also share their experience with our domestic players. I think this is something we are really waiting for and I hope, you know, this will start,” Harmanpreet Kaur was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
“Performance is something which is in our hands and that’s what we have been doing and the rest of the things are totally dependent on BCCI and the cricket board. We can’t do something extra on that but we can only request and that’s what we have done, you know, for many years. They know better than us. They know when to do it and how to start,” she added.
Harmanpreet was also Renegades’ leading wicket-taker, scalping 15 wickets at an economy rate of 7.46, bowling a lot of vital powerplay and in the death overs. The 32-year-old was adjudged Player of the Match under a 3-2-1 voting system that is voted by the standing umpires after each match. Overall she becomes the third player to be named the WBBL’s Player of the Tournament. New Zealand duo Devine (twice) and Amy Satterthwaite are the other two players get the honour.
Announcing the @WBBL Player of the Tournament!
📝https://t.co/qztczxl4bF#GETONRED pic.twitter.com/OZ2rMn4589
— Renegades WBBL (@RenegadesWBBL) November 24, 2021
Harmanpreet became a household name for Indian women’s cricket ever since becoming the first Indian to play in both the WBBL and the Super League in England. She is hoping to inspire the next generation of players with her deeds in the WBBL.
“Playing any tournament will give you lots of confidence and WBBL is something, you know, it’s a very, very big platform back home. I’m extremely delighted, it’s something very big that I have achieved. I’m very thankful to my team and all the support staff, they have been great during this time and have supported me a lot. It’s been totally a team effort I was just doing the job the team required from me,” the 32 year old said.
“Every Indian wants to play in this league and I was the first one who got this opportunity to play and today, you know, winning this player of the tournament definitely gives lots of confidence to Indian girls also,” said Harmanpreet. We have a team that has gelled together. We support each other and that’s what we have been doing. I haven’t put any extra pressure on myself, I’ve just enjoyed being here and supporting my teammates,” she concluded.
