As BCCI confirmed the Women's T20 Challenge exhibition games in the UAE, India Women captain Harmanpreet Kaur on Wednesday (August 5) said she is excited about playing in the UAE for the first time later this year.
Like every year, the Women's T20 Challenge will also be held during the men’s IPL 2020 in the UAE and Kaur – who was recently made the global brand ambassador of WTF Sports, which launched an app in India, is looking forward to coming out of the long break enforced by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Since 2018, the Indian cricket board has been organizing Women’s exhibition games to promote women’s cricket in the country with an eye to convert it into the full-fledged Women’s IPL in the near future.
Harmanpreet said: “Yes definitely (I'm excited for the Women's Challenge) because this is our first tour to Dubai and we haven't played there before.”
On the conditions in the UAE, she noted: “I had questions like how the wickets would be. We need to play to our strengths because if you don't play to your strengths, then your natural game doesn't come out.”
The T20 captain also hopes that Indian women’s team will grab the opportunity and make most of the opportunity in the UAE as they haven't played since the T20 World Cup 2020 final in Australia in March.
The star batswoman further added, “I hope that we grab the opportunity that we get and we are equally excited for the women's IPL (Challenge) like the men's IPL. I hope we play good cricket in the four games that we will get and entertain everybody.”
As there has been no cricket since mid-March due to the outbreak of COVID-19, Harmanpreet feels the mental strength would be a key for any player when they return to the field following the break.
The India captain stated, “When there is a long break and after that however good touch you are in, you start doubting yourself. Mental strength helps here.”
She believes that the women players have worked on their fitness at home during the COVID-19-forced break which would help them when training resumes.
Harmanpreet signed off by saying, “Initially, I might have fear of injury but we have the advantage of working on our strength while at home. Those things are going to help us on the field. But physically we have tried to keep ourselves fit during this lockdown.”
(With PTI Inputs)
