Young cricketer Shivi Sharma believes the rise of league cricket in Delhi is playing a major role in shaping the future of women’s cricket by providing players with professional exposure, competitive match practice and better opportunities to grow.
Fresh from leading her side to the U-23 T20 Championship title, speaking exclusively to TDG Network, Shivi said league cricket has helped bridge the gap that earlier existed between opportunities available to boys and girls in the sport.
“Earlier, league cricket was mostly limited to boys, but now girls are also getting the opportunity to participate,” Shivi said while speaking about the changing landscape of women’s cricket in the capital.
According to the young all-rounder, the biggest advantage of league cricket is the exposure to professional match conditions, which helps players improve both technically and mentally.
“You get proper cricket balls, professional umpires and stronger teams to compete against. It creates a competitive environment, especially in the T20 format,” she said.
Shivi added that the emergence of more structured tournaments and leagues, including competitions similar to the Delhi Premier League (DPL) format, is helping young women cricketers prepare for higher levels of the game.
“The upcoming tournaments are being organised in professional formats, so players are learning how to adapt to pressure situations and perform consistently,” she said.
The U-23 captain, who contributed as both batter and bowler during the title-winning campaign, said modern-day cricket demands versatility from players and league competitions are helping young cricketers develop multiple skills.
Talking about balancing batting and bowling responsibilities, Shivi said managing workload can be challenging but remains enjoyable because of her passion for the game.
“I enjoy batting because I like challenging myself according to the situation. Bowling is something I do part-time, but I enjoy contributing in that role as well,” she said.
Reflecting on her team’s success in the U-23 T20 Championship, Shivi credited confidence and team belief as the key factors behind the triumph.
“From day one, we believed we were going to win the tournament. Everyone had clarity regarding their roles and contributed in batting, bowling and especially fielding,” she said.
Shivi also highlighted the difference between junior and senior-level cricket, saying experience and fielding standards become much sharper at higher levels.
“In senior cricket, players know your strengths and weaknesses better. Every single run matters and the fielding standards are much higher,” she said.
Advising young cricketers on handling growing attention and expectations, Shivi urged players to stay focused on improving their game rather than getting distracted.
“Media is important, but cricket should remain the main focus. If you perform well and handle pressure, everything else follows automatically,” she added.