Bengaluru: Long queues snake around M Chinnaswamy Stadium hours before the first ball is bowled. The stadium is bathed in a sea of red. All this is testament to how Women’s Premier League (WPL) has touched the hearts of fans.
In its third edition, WPL has scripted a success story in the city. Given the loyal legion of fans of the home team and defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, people from across the country have been coming to the city to watch Smriti Mandhana and co.
Among the thousands who piled into the stadium over the past few days were Tanvi Takane from Pune and Simran Rashidee from West Bengal, both of whom soaked in the electrifying atmosphere.
Tanvi, who has a three-year-old child, has seen the struggles of women’s cricket over the years. Having played for Maharashtra at the state level, the 36-year-old is proud of the sport’s journey. “It’s a great feeling. When I played, there was no such exposure. It’s such a proud feeling to see women’s cricket at this level, people coming and watching them, and the crowd cheering for all the women cricketers. It’s just too personal and very emotional for me,” says the cricketer-turned-analyst before she headed off to cheer for RCB.
Juggling work and a toddler, Tanvi, who travels whenever possible to catch a women’s game, says it’s just her passion for the sport that keeps her going. “It’s sheer passion and love for the game. When I played, I couldn’t reach the heights I wanted to because of injuries. So, it’s just pride and joy to go and watch those matches.”
Coming from a time when even making train reservations for players was a tough ask, Tanvi credits the development of women’s cricket to the merger with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
When it comes to WPL, Tanvi, an analyst with Kolhapur Tuskers in the Maharashtra Premier League, believes the craze for it took wings because of the loyal band of followers from the existing men’s franchises. She adds that watching RCB fans is an experience like no other.
Meanwhile, Simran says passion is the driving factor that makes her travel the length and breadth of the country to catch women’s games. “Cricket is my only passion. I’m just crazy about the game, especially women’s cricket.”
“The first year, WPL tickets were free. Now, people are paying to watch women’s cricket. It’s massive. Such fanfare for women’s cricket brings tears to my eyes,” says the former under-23 Bengal player, who is already planning to jet off for the Mumbai leg of WPL.
Former India cricketer and commentator VR Vanitha says players are getting more visibility because matches are being broadcast now. “Fans have started recognising them because they see them on TV. WPL is already a brand established in Bengaluru. But this year, fans have turned out in large numbers to watch non-RCB matches, which is a good sign for the sport,” she adds.
Role models for youth
While there has been a marked interest among youngsters in women’s cricket, WPL has further facilitated its growth, with many young girls now looking at women cricketers as role models.
Eyca Jain, a nine-year-old from Vidyashilp Academy, has dragged her family to the stadium, wanting to watch her favourite players, Renuka Singh and Ellyse Perry from RCB.
“She made a handwritten schedule of all RCB matches to juggle studies and matches. She also made her flag, which she waved at the stadium,” says her father Prashant Jain, an entrepreneur.