Former India spinner and ICC Hall of Famer Neetu David has stressed the need for greater focus on power-hitting and format-specific training in India’s women’s domestic cricket structure. David believes state associations and local coaches have an important role to play in preparing batters for the demands of modern cricket.
Speaking to PTI in her role as Head of Scouting for UP Warriorz in the Women’s Premier League, David said the lack of aggressive finishers in the Indian senior team and WPL teams is a problem that needs to be addressed at the grassroots level. According to her, players cannot be expected to suddenly develop these skills after reaching the highest level.
Power Hitting Must Start at State Level
The discussion around Women’s cricket power hitting has become increasingly important as T20 cricket continues to grow. David believes state teams should actively train batters to play aggressive cricket rather than expecting them to learn these skills after entering elite competitions.
Domestic coaches can play a major role by giving young batters opportunities to develop their attacking game. This includes helping them understand when to attack, how to finish an innings and how to deal with different match situations.
David’s comments highlight the importance of strengthening women’s domestic cricket in India so that the national team has a deeper pool of players capable of meeting the demands of modern T20 cricket.
Strong Spin Talent, But Batting Needs Attention
David has also observed encouraging signs in India’s young spin bowling pool. She has seen promising spinners coming through the Under-15 and Under-19 levels, showing that the domestic system continues to produce quality bowling talent.
However, she believes batting development needs greater attention. Modern T20 cricket requires players to have specific skills for the format, particularly when it comes to scoring quickly and maintaining an attacking approach throughout an innings.
This does not mean that young players should focus only on hitting boundaries. Instead, David believes they need a strong foundation that allows them to adapt their batting style according to the demands of each format.
Lessons From T20 World Cups
David also reflected on India’s previous T20 World Cup campaigns and identified power hitting and fitness as two areas where the team had fallen short. The inability to consistently produce aggressive batting performances can become a major disadvantage in close T20 matches.
At the same time, she believes the situation is improving. Dedicated Strength and Conditioning setups at the BCCI Centre of Excellence and WPL franchises are helping players develop better fitness standards and prepare for the demands of professional cricket.
WPL Changing the Path to India
Another major development highlighted by David is the impact of the Women’s Premier League. The tournament has shortened the traditional pathway from domestic cricket to the Indian team.
Previously, players often moved from domestic cricket to Challengers, then India A before eventually reaching the senior national team. The WPL has created opportunities for players to make that jump much faster.
Players such as Shreyanka Patil, Saika Ishaque and Kranti Gaud have benefited from this changing structure. Their progress shows how the WPL can provide a direct platform for domestic performers to prove themselves against high level opposition.
Neetu David latest news focus on an important message for the future of Indian women’s cricket. Developing power-hitting, fitness and format-specific skills at the domestic level could help create a stronger talent pipeline for both the WPL and the Indian national team.
