The ever-improving Indian women cricketers could get a chance to become household names such as tennis star Sania Mirza and shuttle queen Saina Nehwal provided their matches are regularly televised, feels national team captain Mithali Raj.
The Indian women’s team has been on a roll in recent months.
After a historic Twenty20 series win in Australia in January, they have continued their impressive form at home by whitewashing Sri Lanka in both the ODI and T20 series. Asked if the profile of women cricketers can hope to reach the level of Sania and Saina, Mithali said, “It should, and there is a possibility if our matches are televised. That attracts a lot of brands and corporate sponsorships for individual players. If only a few games are televised and you don’t have a follow-up, like no live coverage of the Sri Lanka series after the Australia series, where we did so well, things will not improve.” Mithali said the upcoming World T20 will be a good opportunity to promote women’s cricket in India. “Since we have done well against Australia and Sri Lanka, the people’s expectations have risen, and it is important that we use this platform to promote women’s cricket in India, because it is the best opportunity,” she was quoted as saying by ‘ESPNcricinfo’. “The team has good momentum and all the players are confident, so it is the right time for us to play a good brand of cricket for people to appreciate in India and to market the sport.” Mithali expressed an wish to be allowed by the BCCI to play in T20 tournaments like the ‘Big Bash’.
