"WPL Gave Indian Players Belief to Win Crunch Moments": Mithali Raj's Analysis of India's Historic World Cup Triumph

India's cricket legend Mithali Raj has credited the Women's Premier League (WPL) as the transformative force behind India's maiden Women's ODI World Cup victory, revealing in an exclusive interview with NDTV that the franchise tournament gave players the mental fortitude and technical expertise needed to overcome pressure situations against the world's best teams. The former India captain, who led the team to two World Cup finals in 2005 and 2017, had tears in her eyes as Harmanpreet Kaur's side finally ended the decades-long wait by defeating South Africa on November 2, 2025.

The WPL Revolution

When asked about the role of the Women's Premier League in India's historic triumph, Mithali didn't hesitate to single it out as the game-changer that elevated Indian women's cricket from contenders to champions.

"I think hugely. The WPL has played a very significant role in unearthing talents like these youngsters—Kranti Gaud or Shree Charani—who are products of the tournament," Mithali, who scored over 10,500 runs across all formats during her illustrious career, told NDTV.

The impact of the WPL, which started in 2023 and currently features five teams, extends far beyond just talent identification. According to Mithali, it has fundamentally changed how Indian players approach high-pressure situations.

Composure Under Pressure

"They got picked through the WPL. After playing in the league, these girls gained the belief to turn things around in crunch moments. That's because they were exposed to those experiences during these franchise leagues," Mithali explained.

She elaborated on how the tournament's high-stakes environment prepared players for World Cup pressure: "Every time there's a tight game in these leagues, they're able to get themselves out of it, they're able to compose their nerves. I think those experiences have really helped them get through this tournament. There were many moments where India pulled themselves out of crunch situations. We saw individual brilliance throughout the tournament."

India's World Cup campaign was a testament to this resilience. After losing three consecutive matches early in the tournament, the team staged a remarkable comeback to not only qualify for the semifinals but go all the way to lift the trophy—a turnaround that would have been unimaginable without the mental strength forged in WPL battles.

Learning from Australian Greats

Another crucial benefit of the WPL, according to Mithali, was the opportunity for Indian players to train and compete alongside Australian and international stars—the very players they would eventually face in knockout matches.

"Every match had a new player of the match. That itself reflects that all these players had the platform of a WPL game. In the franchise league, they were able to play with the Australians, understand their mindset, and learn their plans," Mithali observed.

This cross-pollination of cricketing knowledge proved invaluable during India's record-breaking semifinal chase against Australia, where Jemimah Rodrigues' unbeaten 127 powered India to a historic five-wicket victory.

"Because when you play together, you exchange strategies and plans. So that, in a way, also helped," Mithali noted, highlighting how the WPL created an informal knowledge-sharing ecosystem that benefited Indian cricket.

Talent Pool Depth

The diversity of match-winners throughout India's World Cup campaign—from Jemimah Rodrigues' semifinal heroics to Shafali Verma's final flourish, from Deepti Sharma's all-round brilliance to Shree Charani's economical bowling—illustrated another WPL benefit: depth.

"The fact that India did not rely on a single player in crunch matches showed the wide pool of terrific talent that has emerged from the WPL," Mithali emphasized, pointing out that different players stepped up in different matches rather than the team depending on one or two stars.

Jay Shah's Vision and Pay Parity

Mithali was effusive in her praise for former BCCI secretary and current ICC chairman Jay Shah, whose vision and administrative support made the WPL—and by extension, India's World Cup triumph—possible.

"The pay parity brought in by Jay Shah, the secretary of BCCI—he's the one who launched the WPL, commercialized it, and secured media rights," Mithali said, acknowledging Shah's role in creating financial equity between male and female cricketers.

Since 2022, the match fee for contracted male and female cricketers in India has been identical—a revolutionary step that demonstrated the BCCI's commitment to treating women's cricket with the same seriousness as men's cricket.

In a separate conversation, Mithali expanded on Shah's broader impact: "Mr. Jay Shah, the former BCCI Secretary and current ICC President, was the one who revolutionized the sport, taking key decisions and ensuring the WPL was started. Having completed three seasons, the league has clearly changed countless lives, particularly for women cricketers. Their entire approach has shifted."

BCCI's Role in the Transformation

Mithali was also generous in her praise for the BCCI's institutional support, which went beyond just launching the WPL.

"The BCCI and the WPL have played a huge role in bringing about this change. India's World Cup participation, particularly hosting the event, showed an unprecedented level of response compared to previous tournaments, even the 2013 edition," she said.

She particularly appreciated the BCCI's gesture of honoring all former women cricketers during the opening match between India and Sri Lanka—a symbolic acknowledgment that the current generation's success was built on the foundation laid by pioneers who played when women's cricket received minimal support or recognition.

"What was especially heartening was the decision by the current BCCI secretary to honor all former cricketers during the opening match. This rightly emphasized that those who put in the hard work in the past truly sowed the seeds, allowing the current generation to stand on this platform. It was a very nice gesture," Mithali said with evident emotion.

"Women's Cricket Stands on Par with Men's Cricket" Perhaps Mithali's most powerful statement came when she reflected on what the World Cup victory—and the BCCI's support—meant for the perception of women's cricket in India.

"Mr. Shah also ensured equal prize money for the World Cup. This is a great thing to do—it clearly shows that women's cricket stands on par with men's cricket. When the head views that, that's how it spreads everywhere, and you now get to see people don't really look down on women's cricket," she concluded.

For Mithali, who spent two decades fighting for recognition and resources for women's cricket, seeing the current generation receive institutional backing and public adulation represented a dream fulfilled—not just her own, but that of countless female cricketers who paved the way.

A Historic Night

Reflecting on the moment India won the World Cup, Mithali revealed she was watching from home and only realized India had become champions when she heard the crowd's roar through her television.

"I am just going to give them a hug. The way they have made a comeback in this World Cup was amazing. I am just very happy and emotional that India has finally won the World Cup. That is something we all had been waiting for years, and finally we got to see that," she said, her voice thick with emotion.