The Promise of WPL: A Platform for Indian Cricket to Catch Up

Michael Klinger, head coach of Gujarat Giants, has faced a tough time in his maiden job with a women's team, but he has also had the opportunity to work with more Indian domestic cricketers than coaches of most other sides. Last season, three uncapped domestic cricketers made their India debuts after playing for the franchise.

These early days are also for the tournament itself, which aims to bridge the gap between India's domestic structure and the international level. In 13 games, the team has faced struggles, including fielding lapses, inability to adapt to conditions, and batting explosions. However, the quality of cricket in the tournament is far from optimal, unlike Australia's Big Bash League and England's Super League.

Klinger believes that WPL is an easier competition compared to Australia, where the talent is concentrated among seven domestic teams. However, he notes that the bigger population in India evens out the competition. Despite the challenges, Klinger hopes that the facilities at Indian academies have been excellent, and if they continue to improve, the domestic level and players can reach the standards of international cricket.

Jon Lewis, head coach of UP Warriorz and the England women's team, has a similar view. He believes that WPL is strong compared to The Hundred and WBBL, but there is still a lack of depth in local players. Lewis thinks that the tournament will give young girls and women the ambition to play and an understanding of the level required to compete with the best players.

Klinger emphasizes that the pressure players get from massive crowds is a key factor in making WPL as relevant as any other big league. The crowds are bigger and louder in WPL, which prepares domestic Indian players to take on the pressures of international cricket. Klinger suggests that the ICC should create windows for the three premier women's leagues, including WPL, WBBL, and The Hundred, to allow international players to play and make a good salary.

Lewis also believes that the Indian cricket board has done well to tap into the knowledge capital from other countries where women's cricket had taken an early lead in development. He thinks that the board should continue to bring in overseas coaches and cherry-pick ideas to help grow the women's game in India.

To bridge the gap between the domestic level and WPL, Lewis suggests that the Indian players should play more high-intensity matches, such as the Challenger Trophy, to improve their skills. He also thinks that having overseas players in domestic teams can bring different ideas and exposure to the game sense required at the top level.

Overall, both Klinger and Lewis believe that WPL has the potential to become a premier women's cricket league, and with the right approach, Indian cricket can catch up with the best teams in the world.