‘WOMEN’S TEAM IS TREATED ON PAR WITH MEN’S NOW’

India captain Mithali Raj says that the 2017 World Cup changed everything for the women’s cricket team

Indian women’s cricket team is appreciated and respected like their male counterparts in today’s time, feels the captain of the ship Mithali Raj who credits the team’s impressive stint at the World Cup in 2017 for turning the tide in their favour.

From the increase in the amount that is paid to them as part of the central contract to their games being televised, players now have more reason to focus on their performance.

“The perspective of people has changed. They can now see it’s not just about men; women also play equally well,” Mithali says about the changed general perception now. She adds, “With increasing number of followers, most of the matches are being televised. Also, with the BCCI (the Board of Control For Cricket in India) coming in, we are now centrallycontracted players. The players can actually invest more time in improving their games rather than thinking about jobs. Players who come from the interiors [of the country] and are not economically well off can now breathe easier because we have proper financial support.”

She adds that earlier, a player’s career was considered over after she suffered an injury. “But now, you know you have access to the National Cricket Academy where you have the best trainers and physicians to see that you receive proper treatment,” she explains.

The Indian women’s cricket team, led by Raj, had a golden run in the 2017 World Cup, where they finished runners-up.

Mithali Raj led the Indian women’s team to the finals of the 2017 cricket world cup