Women’s cricket in India has witnessed a significant surge in attention in recent years, particularly following the landmark ODI World Cup 2025 victory on home soil. That triumph has driven greater engagement with the sport, with fans increasingly following players beyond major global tournaments.
A major contributor to this growth has been the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Since its launch in 2023, the franchise-based competition has created a platform where Indian players—both established and emerging—can share the field with seasoned international cricketers. This exposure has played a key role in enhancing their development, both mentally and physically.
However, the foundation of long-term success lies at the grassroots level. Identifying talent early, nurturing it through structured systems, and preparing players for higher stages such as the WPL or the national side remains a crucial process in building future stars.
MI’s Consistent Focus on Talent Development
Mumbai Indians (MI), one of the most accomplished franchises across the IPL and WPL, have consistently prioritised the discovery and promotion of new talent. Across both men’s and women’s setups, the franchise has maintained a strong track record of providing opportunities to players with potential.
In men’s cricket, names like Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya rose to prominence through MI and have since become central figures for India. A similar approach has been evident in the women’s game. Over four WPL seasons, MI have backed several emerging players, including Saika Ishaque, Vaishnavi Sharma, G Kamalini, Rahila Firdous, Kranthi Reddy and Sanskriti Gupta. Among them, Saika Ishaque, Vaishnavi Sharma, and G Kamalini have already gone on to represent India.
Jhulan Goswami on the ‘MI Junior’ Initiative
Former India fast bowler Jhulan Goswami recently shared insights into MI’s developmental structure. She spoke about the ‘MI Junior’ programme, which serves as a key pathway for identifying and nurturing young cricketers.
The initiative is MI’s flagship inter-school tournament conducted under the Reliance Foundation’s Education and Sports For All (ESA) programme. It aims to provide competitive opportunities for school-level players across Maharashtra, both boys and girls, while allowing them to compete at prominent venues.
Currently serving as mentor and bowling coach for Mumbai Indians Women, Jhulan also remains actively involved in coaching roles across franchise leagues and holds responsibilities with the Bengal women’s state side.
Discussing the philosophy behind MI’s approach, she emphasised the importance of equal access for young talent.
“MI is such a franchise that always believes equal opportunities should be provided to young boys and girls. The Reliance Foundation has always maintained that and made sure both boys and girls get equal support,” she said. “The MI Junior initiative has been superb, especially with the way women’s cricket in that tournament has grown in recent times. So many girls have already been selected for the U-15 Mumbai team, and that opens the doors for them to gain more experience and hopefully represent MI in the future.
“Our aim is always to give the right direction to youngsters in their journey. Every year, be it in the IPL or WPL, MI is known for providing opportunities to less-known players, and that has become a fundamental part of this franchise. MI gave exposure to Bumrah and Hardik, and now they are top players in India. In the WPL, we introduced Saika and Kamalini, gave them opportunities, and they went on to represent India.
“Wherever tournaments that are happening in India, our scout teams are active and working hard. They provide the needed inputs, and as a coaching team, we get those players according to our needs,” she added.
Building a Clear Pathway to the Top
Mumbai Indians’ continued investment in grassroots cricket underlines their long-term vision for the sport. Through structured initiatives like ‘MI Junior’, the transition from school-level cricket to professional leagues is becoming more defined, offering young players a clearer route to the highest levels of the game.
