Indian Players As Captains In WPL: Anjum Chopra Explores The Leadership Potential And Opportunities Missed

Anjum Chopra, a former India captain, is slightly dissatisfied that most franchises in the inaugural WPL have opted for foreign players in leadership roles.

On Saturday March 4th, 2023, the Women's Premier League kicked off at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy with a match between the Gujarat Giants and the Mumbai Indians.

Indian players "should have been captains if they have capabilities," Anjum said, "I didn't like that most of the teams have opted for foreign players as captains."

Leadership Potential and Missed Opportunities

Teams like Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore chose Indian players like Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana as captains. In contrast, groups like Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Giants chose Australian players like Meg Lanning, Beth Mooney, and Alyssa Healy as captains.

Anjum Chopra said in an online chat that she agreed with the majority opinion that Deepti Sharma should have been named captain because of her leadership during the most recent Women's T20 Challenge.

However, Chopra did concede that Australia, winners of six T20 World Cups, has more seasoned players than India.

Anjum has shared the assessment of the international experience of Australian players; she cannot support the promotion of Jemimah Rodrigues as captain of the Delhi Capitals over Meg Lanning. The Indian team lacks the potential of the Australian team when it comes to captaincy. As foreign players are already household names, as per the 45-year-old cricketer-turned-commentator the key factor will be the performances of rookie domestic players.

Since it is a franchise tournament, the competition for Indian players will always be high. A salary has been set because the players are professional athletes. The more the players engage with the game, the more they learn to adjust to the ever-changing environment. The integration and subsequent contributions of the home team players are crucial. Chopra said this will be a fantastic opportunity for homegrown players to meet and mingle with some of the sport's all-time greats.

Ultimately, Chopra is eager to see how a U-19 player can enter franchise cricket and play alongside Meg Lanning, Beth Mooney, and Harmanpreet Kaur. All eyes are on  how Indian domestic players do because this is a huge deal for them; they are familiar with the foreign players but have no idea how they will fare. In Chopra's opinion, The WPL will revolutionise Indian women's cricket.

It's been a long road, but seeing the league come to fruition is a welcome change of pace. To win against Australia, every single player has to improve as individuals before working effectively as a team. According to her, "a tournament like this will help" since teams from Australia, England, and New Zealand have been challenging Indian cricket for years.

Anjum Chopra's research of Indian players' experiences as WPL captains reveals both the players' untapped leadership ability and the squandered possibilities. Every 'Anjum Chopra match' was a must-see for cricket fans, thanks to Anjum Chopra's excellent talents and leadership on the pitch, inspiring a new generation of female cricketers.

FAQs:
Who is Anjum Chopra?
Former captain of India's women's cricket team and now a respected cricket broadcaster and analyst, Anjum Chopra played the game at the highest level.
What is the Women's Premier League (WPL)?
The Women's Premier Competition (WPL) is an Indian professional women's cricket competition that features some of the best players in the sport from India and worldwide.
In what ways may we use Anjum Chopra's research?
Important lessons learned include the need for more women to serve as cricket team captains and the potential good effect such leadership may have on the development of women's cricket in India.