'The BCCI should support our participation in the Women's Big Bash'

The Indian women's team has been on a high in recent months. After a historic T20 series win in Australia in January, they have continued their impressive form at home by whitewashing Sri Lanka in both the ODI and T20 series. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, captain Mithali Raj reflects on the reasons behind the team's strong performances, the emergence of top-class young players, the improvements at domestic level, and the steps needed to raise the profile of the game in the country.

Things have been going well of late for India.
The Australia tour was very important and all of us knew that it would be very challenging to beat them at home as very few of our players had experience on those fast tracks. Winning the T20 series was a good experience for the whole team and it has given a lot of confidence to the players. We have come good as a unit. Winning before the World Cup was good timing as well.

Can you elaborate on the transformation that has taken place in the last few years? And what do you put the team's improved performances down to?
The team has been together for two years and most of the players have played for Indian Railways, who I captain [in domestic cricket]. We are together round the year. That develops a bond and I don't have to work too much. Earlier, our batting never clicked in T20s. Only one or two players would score and the team was dependent on them. Now, we have every player contributing to the team's performance and that has made a lot of difference. Our top order scored runs in Australia and our fielding was really good.

"Since we have done well against Australia and Sri Lanka, the people's expectations have risen, and it is important that we use this platform to promote women's cricket in India"

There was a time when England and Australia were far ahead of the pack. Do you think the field has evened out after your win against Australia?
I think it has, after our wins in the last two series. We are strong contenders for the World Cup. Earlier, it used to feel like those two teams are way ahead of the rest, but now with the transformation in the Indian team - West Indies has been doing well and New Zealand have done well against Australia - the gap is closing.

Do you feel a lot more younger girls are now pushing for national honours?
Yes, because we have our domestic structure in place and the ICC Championship has done a lot of good. We get to play every team before the World Cup, touring in different conditions besides a few series at home. It gives a lot of opportunities to the youngsters. As we play more, we get to see who a quality player is and what plans and strategies would work for the team. Whenever you undergo transformation, a couple of good players always emerge, like Smriti Mandhana and Anuja Patil, which will only increase the depth for the team.

Players are centrally contracted now. Has that made a difference?
Yes, because there are players who come from middle-class or lower middle-class backgrounds and struggle to buy a kit and earn a living. They completely depend on the state association. With central contracts, you are very well looked after by the board. You do not have to be bothered about anything else. Just put in the hard work and do well for the country.

The World T20 is in India. You have done so well on tours. Suddenly there is pressure that you will be holding the trophy at the end of the tournament. Is that the kind of pressure you're coming to terms with since you're one of the favourites?
The World Cup, as an event, carries a lot of pressure, irrespective of the number of caps you have earned, and the pressure doubles when you play at home. Since we have done well against Australia and Sri Lanka, the people's expectations have risen, and it is important that we use this platform to promote women's cricket in India, because it is the best opportunity. The team has good momentum and all the players are confident, so it is the right time for us to play a good brand of cricket for people to appreciate in India and to market the sport.

Do you think playing your matches besides the men has helped, as will be the case in the World T20?
The double headers generated a lot of viewership and promoted women's cricket around the globe in a better way. I think the Big Bash or an IPL-style tournament would give an impetus to women's cricket. Women's cricket can stand alone as a brand, but right now it needs men's cricket to support it.

One aspect of television coverage is that in the men's game you get a lot of information about your rivals. In your case, is it harder to tactically plan against opposition?
It is when you haven't played an opposition for a long time, like we didn't know much about the South African team when we played them a couple of years back, because we last played them in 2009. We struggled then but with the ICC Championship, we play every team. So we have a video analyst coming with the team and we have the footage, but it's difficult when you play a team after a long time.

In terms of the support staff, apart from the video analyst, there is also a strength trainer. Have things changed dramatically since you first started playing?
Yes, the approach to fitness is a lot more professional and there is a physio who deals with rehab and injury. The player's knowledge of their body and how to go about in and outside a competition is far better than what it was when I started.

"Earlier, it used to feel like Australia and England are way ahead of the rest, but now with the transformation in the Indian team, the gap is closing"

The women's Big Bash League was a huge success and England is looking to follow suit. As one of the leading players in the world, would you like the opportunity to be part of such leagues?
Yes, because when you play with the best and interact with them, there are cultural interactions. You learn a lot by just mingling and it gives the young players - someone like Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur or Veda Krishnamurthy - the chance to develop as cricketers and mature very quickly, which is what India needs at the moment.

So that is something for you to tell the BCCI?
I think the BCCI will definitely be very supportive, because we don't have the IPL. If the Aussies or England want us in the tournament, the BCCI should be positive enough to support us, because it will benefit them and help the players get experience. When you see them in the next T20 World Cup, they'd be different players.

You see a lot of young Indian girls do really well these days, like Sania Mirza, Saina Nehwal. Do you hope to see the profile of women's cricket reach that level?
It should, and there is a possibility if our matches are televised. That attracts a lot of brands and corporate sponsorships for individual players. If only a few games are televised and you don't have a follow-up, like no live coverage of the Sri Lanka series after the Australia series, where we did so well, things will not improve.

You have played only ten Test matches. Would you like to see more Test cricket for women?
I definitely want to play them as it is the ultimate challenge for any cricketer to excel in that format. It challenges your skill, mental ability and physical endurance.

Are there any changes you would like to see at the domestic level?
I think Star Sports covered the T20 Super League and got a good response. If the domestic T20 Super League or the one-day Super League is televised, it will get a lot of attention.

What should we expect from the Indian women's team at the World T20?
With the kind of momentum we have, we should at least qualify for the semi-finals. From there, it's anyone's game.