WPL has accelerated the rise of young women cricketers: Sneh Rana

Published - 12 Nov 2025, 16:39 IST | Updated - 12 Nov 2025, 16:39 IST

Sneh Rana has opened up on the growth of women's cricket, the mindset of the emerging generation of cricketers and the impact of the Women's Premier League on the sport. Rana played a vital role in India's 2025 Women's World Cup triumph. She credited playing in foreign pitches and conditions in being a crucial factor for the enhancement of women's cricket.

"Earlier, we used to wait a long time for international tours because there were very few matches. Now, we get regular opportunities to play abroad and that has made a huge difference. Playing on different pitches and in different conditions teaches you how to adjust quickly. That exposure has really helped our development," stated Rana while speaking on JioStar's 'Celebrating Champions'.

She also spoke on the difference between the confidence levels of her generation and the up-and-coming ones.

"Today’s youngsters have so much clarity and confidence. In our early days, we were shy to ask questions, even though our seniors were supportive. But these girls go straight up and talk openly. Their self-belief is inspiring; we learn from them too. This fearless mindset is something that has changed women’s cricket," she added.

The bowling all-rounder further pointed the overall development of women's cricket and the emergence of the WPL as well. Rana provided Shree Charani's case to explain her point.

"The growth starts from domestic cricket, especially now that matches are televised. Young girls watch and feel motivated to represent their states. WPL has sped up this entire process. Look at Shree Charani, she’s new to international cricket but plays with so much calm. That confidence comes from sharing dressing rooms with big international players," noted Rana.

Rana also stated that the Women's World Cup squad did not lose self-belief and kept calm despite the three consecutive losses in the group phase. She also lauded the support staff for always believing in the players.

"This team stayed positive through everything. Even after losing three matches in a row, no one panicked. We believed that one good game could change our momentum. The support staff and players never lost faith, and that belief helped us go all the way," she concluded.

Deepti opens up on life after WC, rise of women’s cricket

Rana played six matches in the tournament and took seven wickets at an economy rate of 5.67 and scored 99 runs in five innings. India defeated South Africa by 52 runs in Navi Mumbai on November 2 to seal their maiden Women's World Cup title.