Synopsis
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 is set to begin on February 14, featuring high-scoring pitches in Vadodara and Lucknow. Coach Jonathan Batty emphasizes the importance of adapting to conditions while expressing excitement about the new venues.Key Takeaways
- Vadodara and Lucknow expected to host high-scoring matches.
- DC focused on adapting to new pitches.
- Squad preparation includes intra-squad matches.
- Competition for the wicketkeeping position is intense.
- Strong squad depth is crucial for DC’s championship aspirations.
Vadodara, Feb 11 (NationPress) The third edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), commencing on February 14, will take place across four cities: Vadodara, Lucknow, Bengaluru, and Mumbai. While Bengaluru and Mumbai are well-known venues for all five teams, the inclusion of Vadodara and Lucknow brings an intriguing and fresh aspect to the WPL.
Jonathan Batty, the head coach of the Delhi Capitals (DC), has expressed optimism that the pitches in Vadodara and Lucknow will facilitate high-scoring matches. “We’ve been fortunate in the last two years with fantastic wickets, leading to some truly competitive high-scoring encounters,” he stated.
“We’re approaching each match individually, evaluating conditions as they arise. We were fortunate to have a great practice facility in Pune where we trained on both black soil and red soil pitches, allowing us to prepare for various scenarios without knowing exactly what we will encounter,” he added.
“The Kotambi stadium here offers a superb pitch. The Indian women recently played a high-scoring series against Iceland here, indicating that the wickets are likely to be excellent. However, as always in cricket, you must assess the conditions when you step onto the field and try to prepare beforehand,” said Batty.
“It’s only when the players actually play on the pitches that they truly understand how they will behave. Hence, it’s crucial to remain adaptable and responsive to the real-time conditions. It's exciting to see these new venues included in the schedule,” Batty elaborated during a pre-season press conference.
The Meg Lanning-led team arrived in Vadodara in preparation for their tournament opener against the Mumbai Indians on February 15, following an extensive pre-season training camp in Pune.
Batty mentioned that he joined the squad once everyone had arrived and highlighted that intra-squad practice matches held during the camp were highly productive. He noted that the camp provided players the opportunity to find their T20 rhythm and gain clarity on their roles within the team.
“We achieved our individual and collective goals during the camp, which was great. Now, it's about fine-tuning our strategies ahead of the upcoming game on Saturday,” he stated.
“We have a session planned at the stadium where we’ll be competing, which will give us a good opportunity to acclimate to the environment. Then, the preparation will shift to focus more on individual needs to ensure readiness for the match,” he explained.
“Everyone has adapted well to the conditions and has gotten back into the groove after being apart for a year as a complete squad. Our preparations have been excellent, and there’s a positive energy within the group. It’s about fine-tuning now, as I mentioned, in readiness for Saturday’s game,” he added.
In determining their playing eleven, the DC must decide between Taniya Bhatia, and newcomers Nandini Kashyap and Sarah Bryce from Scotland for the wicketkeeping position. Taniya has been the primary wicketkeeper for the first two seasons but has struggled to make a significant impact with the bat.
“Taniya has arguably been the best wicketkeeper in the tournament over the past two years. Her glove work has been impressive. Our objective as a team is to keep evolving, developing, and improving. Therefore, it’s essential to have strong competition for the wicketkeeping role,” Batty commented.
“It’s an open competition at the moment. On Saturday, we’ll select the best eleven to secure that initial victory, and this process will continue throughout the tournament. Selection is ultimately in the players’ hands, as they must demonstrate their worth for the team,” he added.
“It’s encouraging to have real competition for Taniya in the wicketkeeping position. We’ve strengthened our squad while maintaining our core group. Our goal is to have the strongest possible 18-player squad,” he concluded.
The WPL 2025 marks the beginning of DC’s pursuit of their first title after two consecutive runner-up finishes. Batty noted that planning for WPL 2025 began shortly after their defeat in last year’s final at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, including specialized training camps for their Indian players.
“As soon as a tournament ends, preparations for the next cycle commence. We maintain communication via a WhatsApp group, allowing players to stay connected, celebrate birthdays, and share updates on their performances in other tournaments. This fosters a strong sense of camaraderie throughout the year,” he explained.
“Additionally, we come together as a squad when players are available outside their regular seasons. We conduct specialized training camps at various locations across India. Coaches may also travel to players’ home locations if suitable, which fosters continuous growth and skill development among the players,” Batty concluded.
