Bridgetown, 17 September (H.S.): Playing in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) is an important opportunity for Indian women cricketers to understand overseas conditions and enhance their game. Trinbago Knight Riders Women head coach and former India fast bowler Jhulan Goswami said that stepping outside familiar surroundings and playing in different conditions would help players make better decisions in the future.

The participation of Indian players in the WCPL has been steadily increasing. Jemimah Rodrigues has previously represented Trinbago Knight Riders, while Yastika Bhatia is part of the team this season. Shikha Pandey has also been associated with the franchise for several years.

Speaking in a statement issued by the franchise on Thursday, Jhulan said, “As a cricketer, when you step outside your comfort zone and play, you gain a great deal of experience. It certainly helps you in the future. That is why whenever Indian girls get an opportunity like this, they like to come here and play.”

She added, “Ultimately, you are playing good-quality and competitive cricket. The WCPL is growing consistently. This year, we have added another team, so you can feel the competitiveness throughout the tournament.”

Jhulan said playing in Caribbean conditions was particularly important for Indian players because they had to handle many things on their own in such an environment.

She said, “It is a good thing for our girls that they are stepping outside their comfort zone and playing in tournaments like this. In India, whenever you need something, many things are readily available, but here you have to do a lot of things yourself.”

She added, “This is a good experience for our girls. When they come here and gain this exposure, they can develop into players who make very good decisions in the future.”

Trinbago Knight Riders Women won the inaugural edition of the WCPL in 2022. The team will now face Guyana Amazon Warriors Women in the final of the 2026 edition. The final will be played at Kensington Oval on Thursday. The match will begin at 2 p.m. local time and can be watched in India from 11:30 p.m. IST.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar