iQOO recently collaborated with World Cup-winning captain Harmanpreet Kaur for the latest episode of its podcast series, The Quest Talk, hosted by Nipun Marya. In a candid conversation, Harmanpreet opened up about the long wait for the Women’s Premier League (WPL) and the challenges faced by Indian women cricketers during that period. Reflecting on the journey, she shared how the delay led to feelings of being overlooked, saying, “We were feeling sad as we were not being trusted.”
For years, the challenge for Indian women’s cricket wasn’t a lack of talent, but the absence of a strong pathway between domestic and international cricket. Reflecting on this gap, Harmanpreet Kaur shared, “There was a very big gap between domestic cricket and international cricket standards,” a gap that made it difficult for players to transition seamlessly. She further highlighted the impact of this disconnect, adding, “Before WPL, it was not easy for a domestic player to adapt and settle quickly in the international circuit because of the lack of experience of big-stage matches.”
Despite the evident need, the Women’s Premier League (WPL) took time to materialize. In the conversation, Harmanpreet spoke about the uncertainty and disappointment surrounding the delay. “The WPL conversation was going on for a long time, but for some reason things were not moving forward, and that time we were feeling sad about why they are not trusting us,” she said. She also pointed to the core concern that delayed its rollout, noting that “the management was concerned of the low bench strength and if they could make teams based on the number of players we have,” underlining the long-standing hesitation around depth in Indian women’s cricket.
That perception began to shift with the arrival of the WPL in 2023. Drawing parallels with the IPL’s impact on men’s cricket, Harmanpreet emphasized how the league unlocked a deeper talent pool. “We saw a lot of talent coming up through IPL, so we always thought once WPL starts we will also get a lot of talented Indian players which will help in making the bench strength strong,” she shared.
More importantly, the WPL has transformed the mindset and professionalism of emerging players, an impact now visible on the biggest stage. “The Indian players coming from WPL have a totally different mindset, with well-planned routines that make them great professionals,” Harmanpreet Kaur added.
Prashant Chaudhary
An android fan and A Computer Engineer who fell in love with the world of Internet Marketing. Worked on different SEO techniques for small to large Internet properties at Initial days of my Career. I am in love with my passion for Blogging and running several blogs in variety of category.
