FREE HIT - An IPL 2020 talk show with Boria Majumdar: Captain, Indian women's ODI team Mithali Raj
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00:00Do you think this WIPL will set us up now for a fully-pledged IPL, maybe a year from now. 2022, does it look realistic to you that we will have a fully-pledged women's IPL? Is India ready?
00:17Hello and welcome to this rather special edition of Free Hit With Me on Gulf News. And today, I've got perhaps the greatest cricketer to have played for India, the women's game.
00:27Clearly, one of my very dear friends and a personal favourite, Nitali Raj, welcome. Thank you very much for speaking to me. Finally, the WIPL is on us. First thoughts?
00:36I think all of us are raring to go. All the girls have been training past a month and a half as the lockdowns have opened face-by-face. And since we've got access to the ground, all of us are looking forward to this game time that we will get in the WIPL.
00:53You've been training in Bangalore for the past few weeks. How has it been? Give me a sense of that. When you finally came back to training, obviously, there are still cases in Bangalore. Were you afraid? Were you apprehensive? And give me a sense of training.
01:07Access to the ground and the training facility in Hyderabad was still not open. And as the news came for the WIPL in November, then I thought there has to be some sort of a training programme in place for me to get prepared for the coming season.
01:21I did take a chance. I did take a risk to travel to Bangalore. And I've been here past one month, putting in efforts to train physically. Because that is something, all of us at some point, we need time to get physically fit or get to a shape where we've been before the lockdown.
01:37So, that will take time. And that is why I've come here, good three-four weeks. Been training on my fitness as well as on batting. Because it's a T20 format, yes.
01:46I don't play T20. But I definitely want to prepare for the WIPL. Because it is another platform for us to showcase our best standard and also promote women's cricket globally. Because again, it is being hosted in UAE. It will get a lot of people watching these matches. So, it's important for us as players to put up our best show.
02:10How important is this WIPL? I mean, I understand it is not the ideal because there is a clash with the WBBL. In normal circumstances, we would have gotten the Australian players. I had this rather unwelcome exchange even with Alyssa Healy. My point was that at least the Indian players need to get some game time. So, I know it's not ideal. But it's important that the Indian girls also get game time. So, from the standpoint of Indian women's cricket, how important is this WIPL?
02:39I do agree that having the foreign players in it, it has its own charm to it. Getting the best players around the globe from every team. But unfortunately, with the clash and the sort of timing that women's big-bash league and the WIPL. But I guess somewhere, as you rightly said, as Indian players, even the domestic players now will get an opportunity to play these matches. And they definitely are looking forward to it because it's a three-team format.
03:08And we will win a game each. I would like to see that because we have seen how Australia and New Zealand are playing a series. England is playing against West Indies. So, probably, this is the beginning of a season for Indian women's cricket team.
03:22And all the international players, like the national players, along with the domestic players, we will get an opportunity to come together and probably play our best cricket on a platform that is given to us. Considering how difficult it was to actually get men's IPL in action. And kudos to BCCI and the IPL governing body to actually get things rolling.
03:47And I can see that every game is so close. And the sort of reaction that people are getting, we are getting on social media. So, I think I am looking forward to these matches. What little interaction I have had with the other girls. All of them are looking forward to the game time that we will get in UAE. Because at the end of the day, you train, you work hard, you are looking forward to sort of get on to the ground. And this is an opportunity for us to come and play.
04:14You have been around for a long, long time. This WIPL, from your interactions with the girls, do you think this WIPL will set us up now for a fully-pledged IPL, maybe a year from now? 2022, does it look realistic to you that we will have a fully-pledged women's IPL? Is India ready?
04:34India definitely is ready. Because if I have to talk about the T20 format, India has done brilliantly in the last edition of the T20 World Cup. Probably this year itself, in March, that they are runners-up. So, there are a lot of young talents like Shefali Verma, Richa Ghosh, who can be given. We can unearth some more talents like this in this format by having a WIPL, where uncapped players can get an opportunity.
05:00That's how it is a fine example, how Shefali has come into the international scene, is because of the last WIPL that we played, where she represented Velocity, the team that I led. And we all got to see the talent that she had, a glimpse of it in that WIPL.
05:18So, I think it will definitely give that platform for these young girls. And I guess that, you know, coming from a good World Cup that we had as an Indian team, I think this is a very good chance. And if as players, as national players, as domestic players, we put in a good effort and see that it is just as good as it was in the last edition of the T20 World Cup, I think it will definitely give that platform for these young girls.
05:46And if as players, as domestic players, we put in a good effort and see that it is just as good as it was in the last edition of the T20 World Cup, I think it will definitely give that platform for these young girls.
06:02For a while, we did not have a Women's Selection Committee. Now, we do. And I am actually glad that someone you mentioned to me, Neetu David, has become the Chairwoman of Selectors.
06:13And it's great to see Neetu getting the recognition. Because she was one of the best of her era. And to see her get this recognition. Your thoughts on this, that we see Neetu David as Chairman of the Women's Selection Committee?
06:29I am actually quite happy that she finally got a chance to contribute again. Of course, as a player, she has done immensely well for India. Her stats speak for the contribution that she has done for women's cricket.
06:42It's just very unfortunate that she was in an era where she played most of her cricket under WCI. When BCCI has come in and taken over women's cricket, by then Neetu has retired.
06:54So, not many people got the opportunity to see the classy left-arm spinner that she has been. Maybe in another 2-3 years' time in her tenure, we will definitely at least see one ICC Cup for us.
07:05Whether it is T20 or one day, doesn't matter. But if we can get one World Cup in her tenure, I am sure she is also a player who can give her expertise and help young bowlers.
07:16Because she is one of the finest left-arm spinners India has had.
07:24There are some technological issues with Mitali's internet connection. But that's fine. This is the new normal. So, we expect these things to happen. I don't really mind as long as we get to speak to her.
07:34And all my viewers here on Gulf News, please bear with us. Because these are challenges that we face. Under normal circumstances, I would have flown to Bangalore. We could have had lunch and done this interview for you.
07:45But unfortunately, neither of us want this exposure. Mitali, you mentioned the one World Cup. I mean, 2021 has now been pushed back to 2022. And I know what it means to you.
07:56As captain of that team, I mean, you came close twice. As captain of that team, how much is that craving still? That one World Cup in your hand, before you call it, what I call perhaps, the most glorious career. How much is that craving still alive?
08:11Well, I think that is something that has kept me going. Even after 2017 World Cup, when we came runners-up, that elusive cup is something as a motivating factor.
08:24It's what I keep every day. I know why I work hard, why I get up early in the morning. It's because I keep that as a vision to inspire me to get on to the ground and keep working hard.
08:35And I think that is also the reason why most of the girls are looking forward to the ICC events. Because we understand that that is the big platform where we can create a lot of buzz.
08:48Because World Cups are the platform where everybody are glued to watching their national side do well. And since the last 2-3 editions of the One Day World Cup or the T20 World Cup, India has done well.
08:58They have crossed that semi-final mark. We are into the finals in the last 2-3 editions. So, I think that gives me a lot of positivity that we do have a strong side.
09:07We work on the players, given them the sort of match experience that is required. It is just now to get the girls together, to regroup. And again, have a vision aiming to do well in the 2022 World Cup.
09:22There is a biopic on you happening. Taapsee Pannu playing Mithali Raj. There is a book happening, your own autobiography. You are training twice a day. You are playing the WIPL. How are you balancing your 24 hours? Are you working 24 hours? What's going on?
09:39I mean, everything seems to be going on despite the pandemic. You are an inspiration in many, many ways. Tell me about your daily routine. How do you balance so many things and wear so many hats?
09:49In the lockdown, I have realised that if we don't have a purpose in a day to get things going, that is something I have realised. How our lives have been with the sudden jolt of getting all of us into the lockdown.
10:04And I realised, okay, nothing is happening. But suddenly, when the lockdown opened face-by-face, I realised, okay, one needs to keep active. Keep the day going. As a player, it is important to get things going in a day.
10:25Movies, yes, it will take some time because of the pandemic. Things are slowly opening up. I have worked extensively on the book because the lockdown has given me enough time to interact with the editor. Things are rolling in that perspective. But I am glad and fortunate that I am keeping myself so busy with so many things happening around.
10:50When you started in 1999, 2000 and two decades on, it is a different game. Now, when the WIPL is played, there will be millions of concurrent viewers on Hotstar. There will be millions on television. This is your legacy in a way. So, when you look back, you must feel vindicated at the level of talent, the way the women's game has come, the depth of talent that we have in India. That must give you an immense sense of satisfaction, isn't it?
11:19Yes, I think from a time where we were not accessed to international stadiums to play our games, to a time where we are accessed to National Cricket Academy, a facility that every cricketer would love to get into, to get the expertise of trainers and physios out there, and the experts of batting and bowling coaches out there.
11:40So, I think that has definitely helped a lot of young players. Because way back as a 16-year-old, yes, I took maybe two years to get my foothold into international cricket or get sort of 20 games. At least, it took me another four years. But right now, if you see in today's time, say, Shefali Verma or Richa Ghosh, probably they just need a year to get that experience going because they are playing so many games and so many series in a calendar year.
12:09I think that itself is an exposure for them, getting in India A by BCCI since last two years. BCCI has worked on getting those two going for India and under-19 girls. Because we know that at some point, ICC is going to have under-19 World Cup.
12:23So, we do have this age group tournaments which will help young girls because girls who want to play for India, they have some sort of a pathway now. There is an organised domestic structure. We have a league.
12:37So, the girls know what is their future. Whereas, back then, we didn't know where we are heading under WCI. But now, we do understand that there is a good pathway for even parents to sort of get a structured goal for the young girls who aspire to play for country in sports.
12:57So, I think coming under BCCI has been a big, big boost for all the women cricketers. I think that is the main point in terms of my career because I have seen WCI, pre-BCCI and post-BCCI now.
13:14So, I can sort of relate to both times. And I think that this coming under BCCI has been a major, major boost for all the cricketers. Even for that matter, I should acknowledge that my own career has prolonged because of the facilities that I have been given or I have been accessed to under BCCI.
13:36And that has really helped me in terms of coming out of injuries, taking the experts of physios and NCA trainers, putting me to rigorous training sessions.
13:46When I look back at your career, it seems like you are an Indian dream come true. You weren't born into luxury. You weren't born into a family which had billions in the bank. You did not.
13:58I mean, you were asked questions. Is this the profession you would want to choose? And you chose it. And from then on, to sitting next to toilets in trains, to go sort of traveling in unreserved compartments, to becoming a legend.
14:12It's actually a journey that inspires every girl in this country. In that sense, for me, Mitali Raj remains an inspiration. You're an aspiration of sorts that this country would love to embrace.
14:25More power to you. I really want that movie to come out, that book to come out because more people need to know, learn, read, enjoy and consume and appropriate you in a manner that this country can celebrate.
14:36I'm looking forward to seeing you back in that WIPL because like I say for MS Tony or Sachin, every time you step out to that park for cricket, it gives me joy because of what you've done over the last 20 years.
14:50And as I said, maybe 2022, God will be kind. You came twice. You came as close as possible, maybe that one final time because what gives its devotees the best, it reserves its best for its devotees.
15:05And you have been a true devotee. Thank you very, very much Mitali Raj for speaking to me. I'm hoping that my viewers will enjoy this. More strength to you. Stay well and stay safe. Thank you very much.