Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana Set Ambitious Goals Ahead of WPL Opener

Mumbai Indians Gear Up for WPL Season Opener

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 8: As the Mumbai Indians (MI) prepare to defend their title in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), captain Harmanpreet Kaur expressed that the team is not resting on their laurels after their historic World Cup victory last year. Instead, they are aiming for even greater achievements.

The WPL season four opener will see MI face off against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Friday at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, featuring a showdown between India’s World Cup-winning captain Harmanpreet and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana.

During a pre-match press conference, Harmanpreet emphasized that the team is eager to build on their success, with significant tournaments like the T20 World Cup scheduled for June to July and the inaugural ICC Women’s Champions Trophy set for the following year.

“We are not content with just one World Cup victory; there is so much cricket ahead of us in the next few years. Every time we step onto the field, we aim to maintain a winning mindset. The WPL has significantly influenced our players, pushing them out of their comfort zones and allowing them to compete alongside international stars,” she stated.

Harmanpreet noted that the WPL has helped bridge the gap between different levels of international cricket, enhancing the overall quality of the game in India. “We are setting higher goals for ourselves, and I am optimistic about our progress as a team,” she added.

RCB captain Smriti echoed these sentiments, highlighting the importance of winning the T20 World Cup in England and Wales this year. “While we celebrated our World Cup win, we recognize that there is still much work to be done. Our goal is to establish ourselves as the best team in the world consistently, not just for a few tournaments. The WPL is crucial in helping us achieve that,” she concluded.