Former England wicketkeeper and current Gujarat Giants fielding coach Sarah Taylor believes the Women’s Premier League (WPL) has significantly advanced women’s Cricket in India, especially in power-hitting and match awareness.
“It’s scary how fast they’re improving”: Sarah Taylor on India’s new era
In an interview with Press Trust of India (PTI), Taylor noted how quickly the women’s cricket scene has changed in just a year. She indicated that Indian women’s cricket is evolving from its traditional focus on elegance to embracing power and athleticism rapidly.
“They’re on their way. It’s scary where the girls were last year and where they are now,” Taylor said. “The power coming into the domestic game here is incredible. In five years, India will be absolutely flying.”
She pointed out that players who may not seem physically strong are now hitting sixes easily, which was uncommon in the Indian women’s game in previous years.
One major change Taylor mentioned is that hitting sixes is now standard in domestic matches. She observed that young Indian batters are not confined by their size when it comes to hitting powerfully.
“You’ve got young girls who are tiny but hitting sixes straight down the ground,” she explained. “That power just wasn’t part of the game earlier.”
Taylor believes this improvement is due to better training, increased confidence, and regular exposure to high-level competition facilitated by the WPL.
WPL: A perfect launchpad for India’s global success
Taylor stressed that the WPL is well-timed for India, especially with the Women’s T20 World Cup happening in the UK later this year. She believes the league prepares Indian players for the challenges of major tournaments by simulating high-pressure situations.
“They’re playing under lights, in tight games, with some of the best players in the world,” Taylor said. “They’re watching how top International players go about their cricket and picking up little titbits.”
This experience ensures young Indian players will approach the World Cup with confidence. “Going into the World Cup, these girls should have no problems. They’ve been there, done that.”
Young talent signals a bright future: Taylor
Taylor also highlighted emerging talents like Anushka Sharma as indicators of India’s promising future. She commended the eagerness to learn among young players, seeing it as the foundation of their swift growth.
“They want to learn, and that’s the most beautiful thing,” she mentioned. “They’re only going to get better.”
According to Taylor, the mix of raw talent, exposure, and a willingness to grow could position India as a dominant force in women’s cricket over the next decade.
Sarah Taylor reflects on her early retirement from international cricket
Beyond the WPL, Taylor reflected on her international career and clarified that her retirement from England at age 30 was not solely due to mental health, as often believed. Instead, she indicated it was because of clarity around contracts and selection.
“From a factual point of view, I knew, given the meetings that were taking place, that I wasn’t going to be offered a contract,” she revealed. “I didn’t particularly want that meeting, and it became a case of saying, ‘Cool, I’m done then.’”
Taylor described her retirement as a logical end to what she called a “wonderful career,” and she noted that this experience informs her coaching approach.
