India all-rounder Shreyanka Patil was delighted to witness the Karnataka State Cricket Association’s (KSCA) inauguration of “Maharani Trophy KSCA T20 by Karnataka State Cricket Association.” Patil said that she thought it was a “special” moment and an “important step for women’s domestic cricket.”

This tournament will see the KSCA emulate the IPL and WPL models by staging a franchise-based T20 tournament starting this week. It will take place at the Alur Grounds from August 4, with the final to be held under lights at the iconic M.

Chinnaswamy Stadium on August 10 in Bengaluru. The five franchises are Bangalore Blasters, Hubli Tigers, Mangaluru Dragons, Mysore Warriors, and Shivamogga Lioness.

Franchise-style league to inspire the next generation: Shreyanka Patil

Speaking at the eve of the trophy unveiling, Patil said that organizing a league similar to IPL and WPL at the domestic level is the right step towards developing women’s cricket.

“It’s a great initiative by the KSCA to do this trophy unveiling; it’s a special one because we have seen that in the IPL, WPL, and now we have it at the domestic level, so I am very grateful for this,” Patil said while talking to ANI.

KSCA Chairman and former India fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad echoed similar sentiments regarding the same and said that this tournament will give the young girls an opportunity to make it big and create more stars for the women’s team.

“We have already seen many young girls play for the country, be it in the WPL or the Indian team, and one of them is Shreyanka Patil here.

So with this initiative and opportunity provided to the young girls, we would have many more Shreyanka Patils,” he added.

Further while talking about providing exposure to the women cricketers, he stated, “And giving them this opportunity to play under lights at a place like the Chinnaswamy Stadium is in itself a great motivation, and we have seen many talents already.”

Former India captain Diana Edulji was also full of praise for the Maharani Trophy and said that the opportunity provided to the young girls to play in the presence of floodlights will expose them to the actual conditions for international leagues.

“They are going to play under floodlights, which is a very good thing, because that’s what the Indian players require- to be used to playing under floodlights,” she added.

The Maharani Trophy KSCA T20, presented at the eve of its first edition, is expected to give a much-needed boost to women’s cricket in Karnataka by providing a professional franchise-based platform.

With some big names already signed in, the tournament aims to give exposure to the young and upcoming talent and help propel them into stardom.