Mithali Raj : After a strong domestic set up, the idea of IPL makes sense

The 11th season of the Indian Premier League is about to start, but the fans are all pumped off for the upcoming event. In that process, the BCCI is also going to organize exhibition matches for the women’s players so as to test the market for Women’s IPL in the future. But, Raj differed with the opinion and stated that a "strong domestic" setup is important, for the process to begin with.  

"It's important to have the pool of players, who will be qualified to play IPL kind of a league. As I mentioned (in) India A (team) itself we need quality players. Once we have those many players then it will be wise enough to have an IPL," Mithali said.

After Indian women’s valiant journey in the women’s cricket World Cup in England last year, people have started to look up to the likes of Harmanpreet Kaur, Mithali and Jhulan Goswami. That’s why a Women’s IPL may help the BCCI lay the groundwork for the development of the game in the nook and cranny in the country. But, Raj believes that a strong domestic competition will help in achieving that goal. 

"You can feed in any domestic (players) but then there will be a stark difference between an international player and domestic player. It might go against promoting women's cricket. So, I personally believe that when you have strong domestic set-up and churning quality players than giving them an opportunity in IPL makes sense.”

Meanwhile, India will take part in the T20 tri-series involving Australia and England, which begins on Thursday in Mumbai and Mithali said that before the World T20, the team needs to get its combinations right. 

"The team is now preparing for the T20 World Cup this year and it's important that before the World Cup we need to have combinations right. And for that if we have to have few changes in the squad, irrespective of whether the result goes our way or not, it is important because we see the bigger picture preparing for the World Cup," Mithali said.