Women IPL on the cards

Women Cricket Team has triumphed in the recently concluded series in South Africa by crushing the hosts on their turf. After clinching a double series win, Skipper Mithali Raj said that she believed that the future of Indian Women Cricket is bright. It seems like Women Cricket is indeed bracing for a new high.

Reportedly, BCCI is planning to take a step forward to help the women cricketers show some magic with their willows on IPL fields as well.

Important to put our best standard of cricket for people to watch and develop that interest which we had during the World Cup – @M_Raj03, Captain India Women's ODI Team.

Watch the full interview on https://t.co/TLpNbyAHgY pic.twitter.com/AiLhg8QeqW

— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) February 21, 2018

The board is considering the idea of conducting a few women T20 exhibition matches during the upcoming edition of IPL. It is said to be a precursor to the prospects of a separate launch of women’s league.

The IPL governing council had proposed the idea of women IPL last year. According to the minutes of the meeting, “The members deliberated on the requirement for a women’s event besides an event for the juniors.”

Committee of Administrators (CoA) chairman, Vinod Rai, the BCCI is committed to conducting a women’s IPL and the considering the further aspects as well.

“If we find that we can host a few exhibition matches then BCCI would like to do it this year. The women cricketers deserve to play IPL,” Rai told in an interview given to Times of India.

The push for a women’s IPL has become more evident after the Women Cricket Team performed remarkably well in the 2017 World Cup. Indian Player, Gautam Gambhir also called for women’s IPL last year.

IPL.Just a thought! Why not female Cricketers in the Auction. No gender biases,have a mix of players from cricketing countries in the playing eleven! Or is it that men play a tougher game?

— Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) January 28, 2018

One step towards #WomenIPL
Good to see that @BCCI @BCCIWomen planning for this
? @Bcciwomenfans @M_Raj03 @IPL pic.twitter.com/ESP3KUT03l

— Pᴀɴᴋᴀᴊ ᴠᴇʀᴍA (@aspankaj_) February 27, 2018

https://twitter.com/kiran_gunturu/status/968197056207532032

A women's #IPL could be a reality! #WomensCricket https://t.co/O7NAOUlzri

— lesley d. biswas (@lesleydbiswas) February 26, 2018

England, Australia and South Africa women cricketers could feature in the exhibition matches if the move gets the nod. The Big Bash League in Australia hosts the men’s and women’s events in parallel.

CoA member and former women’s skipper Diana Edulji said, “The IPL GC may discuss it for sure. If it’s feasible we will do it. I am all for women’s IPL. But it’s too late this year to come up with a full-fledged event because of time constraint.”

Whether or not Women IPL starts in the next few years, but sure BCCI is looking to take the level of women cricket a notch higher.