She discussed her thoughts on the possible effects of a multi-city format for the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Bengaluru, December 5, 2023: Smriti Mandhana, vice captain of the Indian women’s cricket team and captain of the RCB women’s team, spoke last week at the RCB Innovation Lab’s Leaders Meet India in Bengaluru.
At the inaugural summit, which brought together influential executives from various businesses to discuss the future of sports, Smriti Mandhana expressed excitement about the potential implementation of a multi-city format in her reflections on the WPL’s success. In a multi-city model, WPL would be fantastic. That seems like the next step, and I have no doubt that those in charge here would investigate and see to it that it was carried out.
As an RCB supporter, I would adore playing in Chinnaswamy, where the crowd chants “RCB RCB,” and experiencing that atmosphere firsthand. The fact that it (the multi-city format) can go to locations where women’s cricket hasn’t gone and attract new fans is something that is a step forward for us, Smriti Mandhana said.
The 27-year-old thinks the RCB Innovation Lab’s Leaders Meet India was a much-needed forum to learn how various businesspeople view sports as a platform to generate digital numbers. He also thinks the event should take place more frequently to allow business executives and other sports icons to network.
The captain of RCB, Mandhana, stated that she will prioritize her time with the squad and that the organization has created a conducive environment ahead of the WPL auction and the tournament’s second season. “Many considerations have been made on the types of combinations we require for release or retention. Therefore, we are eagerly anticipating the WPL auctions and are hoping to acquire the players we have our eye on,” Smriti Mandhana continued.
Speaking about the expansion of women’s sports in India, Smriti Mandhana emphasized the outstanding accomplishments of female athletes in the last few years.
“Women in India are doing amazing stuff in the last five to ten years not only in women’s cricket but in women’s sport in general,” she said, emphasizing the cultural shift. Many smaller city girls are greatly inspired to follow their passions by the medals that women’s athletes have won for their country at the most recent Olympics, Commonwealth Games, or Asian Games. Women’s sports in general, in my opinion, ought to be treated differently since doing so will undoubtedly increase sales, whether they are selling tickets or digital rights.
When questioned about what more funding or attention women’s cricket needed to keep moving forward, Mandhana recommended starting at the local level.
“Since a lot of interest is generated by the Indian Women’s Team or the Women’s Premier League competition, the only area we could invest in is the grassroots level of women’s sport generally. Increase your investment to help us attract more female cricket players,” she said.
Mandhana expressed her appreciation for Alex Morgan in women’s FIFA and highlighted Serena Williams’ incredible accomplishments in tennis as her sources of motivation, drawing inspiration from female athletes competing in international sports.
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