Jio Women’s T20 Challenge - A platform for talents to make their dream come true

The Dream11 Indian Premier League 2020 is coming towards the business end. With the men's tournament coming to an end, the women cricketers are ready for some T20 action.

Jio Women’s T20 Challenge is set to begin on November 4, comprising of three teams led by Mithali Raj, Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhanna respectively.

The Supernovas captain, Harmanpreet Kaur addressed the press ahead of their first match. “Whatever opportunities us Indians are getting to play cricket right now, I want to enjoy them, savour every moment. Being away from cricket for about seven months because of the pandemic made me realise that you have to appreciate every such opportunity that comes your way.”

On lead-up to the tournament

“The lead-up to the tournament has been unlike any in the past. A long break, and then a quarantine in Mumbai before coming to Dubai, which is where our hotel is, and then quarantining again.”

Quarantine and isolation practised by the team on and until their arrival in the UAE

“While in quarantine in Mumbai, I tried to stick to a routine. Some yoga and stretches in the morning, then I'd watch something after breakfast if I felt like it, and then I'd spend some time at the gym before lunch. I brought some of my fitness equipment from Punjab and rented the rest in Mumbai; I kept it all in my room. We'd have some team meetings over Zoom after that. I had activities to keep myself occupied with, so it wasn't as though I had to keep staring at the walls all day long!”

The Mithali Raj-led Velocity will go up against Supernovas in the opening fixture of 2020 edition of Jio Women’s T20 Challenge.

The veteran women’s cricketer on recovery and having back-to-back matches

"I think if you give it more space in your mind, it weighs you down," she said about back-to-back games. "You take it one day at a time. Yes, it's going to be a bit of a challenge. The recovery time is less, the next day it's a 2 PM game. But again, it's important that we get these games going so that we have some game time for the players for the coming series.”

A platform for talents to emerge

"All I can say is that we are here to play our best cricket and also enjoy the platform because it's a privileged tournament, everybody would want to be part of this tournament. So, as players, as a team, we are looking forward to these matches.”

On playing at the batting-friendly wicket of Sharjah 

"I think at the start of the IPL, teams were getting 200-odd runs in Sharjah, and now the totals have come down to 120-130. That definitely reflects that the wickets are slowing down. There was a lot of dew factor in that game I watched, the RCB vs SRH. The players spoke about how it was difficult for the bowlers to grip. Again, seasoned players will find a way out, and for inexperienced players, it will be an exposure on how to deal with these variable factors during a match and how they can take help from the senior players and prepare themselves for these matches."

Here’s all everything you need to know about Jio Women’s T20 Challenge 2020

Started as a one-off exhibition match to a three-team challenge for the crown of Women's T20 Champions.

Fixtures: 

4 November: Match 1  - Supernovas vs Velocity at 7.30 PM (IST)

5 November: Match 2 - Velocity vs Trailblazers at 3.30 PM (IST)

7 November: Match 3 - Trailblazers vs Supernovas at 7.30 PM (IST)

9 November: Match 4 - Final at 7.30 PM (IST)

Venue: All four matches including the final will be played at Sharjah Cricket Ground.