Former India Women captain Anjum Chopra on Sunday (April 26) said “Women’s IPL in the progression stages” at the moment, but believes that a World Cup title would have further pushed the idea of having a full-fledged women’s version of the T20 league in the country.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur led the Indian Women’s team to the final of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 last month but eventually lost the title to hosts and defending champions Australia. Chopra said If they had won the title, it would have helped the Women in Blue immensely in turning the dream of a full-fledged Women’s IPL into a reality sooner than later.
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Former cricketer-turned-commentator, who represented India in six World Cups in her successful career spanning over 17 years, also claimed that a World Cup title triumph would have brought a complete generational shift to the women's game in cricket-mad India.
Chopra told PTI, “Women's IPL in the progression stages. From one game at the start, we had four last year in the Women's T20 Challenge, and this time it was supposed to be seven. It has progressed.”
She added, “If the women's team had won the World Cup this year, the number of matches would have been more. There is a big difference between winners and runners up. A victory (in final of last T20 World Cup) would have been a complete generational shift in a much more progressional manner.”
Meanwhile, Women’s cricket has gained a lot of popularity and fans across the world over the years while the Women’s T20 World Cup final between India and Australia witnessed record crowd at Melbourne Cricket Ground last month and Chopra has credited the ICC for "consciously building it up".
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She added, “ICC has bifurcated viewership numbers also very well for the Indian audience. To have 80,000 people watching the final that's commendable. That definitely a boost.”
On pay disparity in Indian cricket, the cricket analyst has yet again insisted that Women’s team have to win more to earn more and a World Cup triumph would change the “mindset to a different level”.
She added, “There is already pay parity in Australia. Because both teams have won the World Cups more than any other nation. If you start winning, then I am sure things will be different. It's also about how much you are able to generate as a team. I would say the sky is the limit for them.”
With the COVID-19 pandemic bringing sporting activities to a standstill, Chopra insisted that the cricket will not be the same it was before the crisis. She also said on the hosting of IPL 2020 and the T20 World Cup.
She explained, “There has been a suggestion that if we are hosting the World Cup in October, then play the IPL as a preparation ground for World Cup. That is only if the situation improves in the coming times. It's difficult to see, to gauge where the sport will be after this.”
Chopra signed off by saying, “For sure it is not going to be where it was before. Even if it opens up tomorrow it couldn't be the same. Can sports people can get back to work without worry? We don't know when this is going to be under control.”
(With PTI Inputs)
