Picture Credit: BCCI/WPL
On the eve of the TATA Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025, captains from all five franchises gathered at the Star Sports Press Room –TATA WPL Captain’s Huddle. Speaking ahead of the tournament, they shared their insights on team compositions, key challenges, and their excitement for the season.
2023 WPL winning captain, Mumbai Indians' Harmanpreet Kaur expressed her excitement for the new season and highlighted the significant impact TATA WPL has had on Indian Women’s Cricket. “I am very excited because this season, a lot of good talent has been picked by all the teams. Last season, we saw players who performed well and earned their place in the national team. This year, I expect an even more competitive tournament as domestic cricketers have prepared themselves thoroughly for this opportunity.”
Highlighting on the evolution of domestic players in TATA WPL, she added: “One noticeable improvement in domestic cricket has been the strike rates of batters. This season, we saw multiple 300+ run scores in domestic matches, showing a more aggressive approach. Players are working on power-hitting, fielding, and overall skill development which is a very good thing.”
Alyssa Healy's presence will be missed: Deepti Sharma highlights her role in Healy's absence
The new crowned Up Warriorz skipper Deepti Sharma also spoke about her leadership role and the responsibility of filling in the shoes of Alyssa Healy. “I am excited about captaining in the WPL. I have led my state team before, so I will draw from that experience. This is a different challenge, but I love challenges no matter the level,” Sharma said.
On the absence of Alyssa Healy, Deepti added, “Alyssa has been an integral part of the team. She led the side brilliantly in the last two seasons, and we will miss her presence. But with this opportunity, I want the team to play a strong brand of cricket. We had a good run in the first season but lost momentum last year. This time, we aim to be more consistent and put in our best performances.”
Furthermore, Gujarat Giants captain Ashleigh Gardner acknowledged the team’s struggles in the last two seasons but emphasized a fresh approach for the upcoming edition. Speaking on the show, Gardner said, “The past two seasons are behind us. We can’t change that, but we can certainly focus on what’s ahead. Our coaches have instilled a fearless approach, and we have strengthened our squad with international depth and young domestic talent. We are in a strong position to perform better this year.”
She also spoke about the challenge of overcoming the language barrier, adding, “At times, communication can be tricky. Meg Lanning might agree with me on this! But that’s where senior Indian players play a crucial role in bridging the gap and ensuring clarity. Everyone in the squad shares the same goal, so clear communication and instilling confidence in my players will be key for us.”
Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Smriti Mandhana shared her thoughts on her team’s composition and players to watch out for. “We had a great auction, and the domestic season was impressive in terms of overall quality. I am really excited about a few players—Prema Rawat is an amazing talent, Raghvi Bist has great potential, and Kanika Ahuja is making a comeback after an injury. I am looking forward to seeing them perform in WPL,” the Indian star batter said.
(With Inputs from Press Release)
