IPL 10: We should have women's IPL says Shantha Rangaswamy

Women’s cricket team of India has come a long way, it has seen its worse days and has improved a lot ever since. Shubhangi Kulkarni, a former Indian cricketer said that in their time they had to raise funds for their tours and people came to watch to out of curiosity rather than support. She said, “I will be happy if the current lot does well in terms of money. In my time, we had to raise funds to meet the costs of tours and playing the game when people initially came more out of curiosity until they were convinced the girls could indeed play cricket.”

Shubhangi Kulkarni, Shantha Rangaswamy and Sudha Shah were the three out of nine women who were felicitated with MCC’s membership. Shantha said that she would love to see an IPL for women as there are enough players to carry out the tournament. She said,“We can have an IPL for women provided we widen the base for the girls. We have enough players to launch such a league. I think India should have taken the initiative when the IPL was started ten years ago. It has turned out to be a grand concept with entertainment,

She said,“We can have an IPL for women provided we widen the base for the girls. We have enough players to launch such a league. I think India should have taken the initiative when the IPL was started ten years ago. It has turned out to be a grand concept with entertainment, glamour, name and fame, not to forget the money, making it an attractive tournament.”

Shantha was of the opinion that India has the administrative strength to carry out such tournaments and it should have done that years ago. And feels that this membership is a boost for women to take up cricket.

The 63-year-old said, “India has the Administrative acumen and the revenue generating power. There might be initial reservations but I am sure it would bring in sponsors. The MCC membership is a big boost for the game in India. Those aspiring can look up to cricket as a career since there is recognition for it now.”

Even Sudha Shah was of the same opinion she said that the MCC membership was a great honour and now she would love to see a women’s IPL.  “Great privilege. I now want to see an IPL for women. It will give splendid opportunities to players in India to take cricket seriously.

She added that she has seen great cricketers giving up on cricket and becoming doctors and engineers. She said “I have seen good players give up cricket and go on to become bureaucrats, doctors, chartered accountants. I was termed foolish but I thought I was brave to stick to cricket. I am happy I could convince my parents to allow me to play cricket.”