‘Things are totally dependent on BCCI’ – Harmanpreet Kaur hopeful of women’s IPL after winning WBBL player of the year

Harmanpreet Kaur has been enjoying a gala time in the ongoing Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 2020-21, playing a vital role in taking Melbourne Renegades to the qualifying stage. Notably, she has been named WBBL player of the tournament, becoming the very first Indian to get the honour. Harmanpreet impressed with both and the ball and took the Renegades to one staggering win after another.

As far as her numbers are concerned, the Indian T20I captain slammed 399 runs in the league stage at an average of 66.50 and strike-rate of 135.25. She also recorded as many as three half-centuries in the process. If this is not enough, Harmanpreet was also Renegades’ leading wicket-taker, scalping 15 wickets at an economy rate of 7.46, bowling a lot of vital powerplay and death overs.

The 32-year-old was adjudged Player of the Match thrice and received 31 votes, under a 3-2-1 voting system that is voted by the standing umpires after each match. Overall, the Indian international becomes the third foreign player to be named the WBBL’s Player of the Tournament. New Zealand duo Devine (twice) and Amy Satterthwaite are the other two get the honour.

We are eagerly waiting for women’s IPL: Harmanpreet Kaur

Meanwhile, Harmanpreet is hoping that her blitzes in the Australian competition would work as a stepping stone towards the establishment of women’s Indian Premier League (IPL).

“I think we have been looking at this for a long time and I hope, you know, sooner this women’s IPL will also start and we will also invite overseas players over there so that they can also share their experience with our domestic players. I think this is something we are really waiting for and I hope, you know, this will start,” Harmanpreet Kaur was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

“Performance is something which is in our hands and that’s what we have been doing and the rest of the things are totally dependent on BCCI and the cricket board. We can’t do something extra on that but we can only request and that’s what we have done, you know, for many years. They know better than us. They know when to do it and how to start,” she added.