India's inspirational cricket leader, Harmanpreet Kaur, has passionately called for a resurgence of women's Test matches and the revival of extended domestic cricket tournaments in the country. With her distinguished career spanning across formats, the 34-year-old dynamo has advocated for increased opportunities in women's cricket, especially in the Test arena.
India's participation in the upcoming 2022-25 women’s Future Tours Programme (FTP) cycle is set to feature only two Test matches. These crucial encounters are scheduled for the 2023-24 season, where India will lock horns with cricketing powerhouses England and Australia on their respective home grounds. Interestingly, a select group of four teams has been designated for Test cricket during this cycle, with India having the fewest Test engagements among them, lagging behind England (five), Australia (four), and South Africa (three).
Brimming with hope and determination, Harmanpreet expressed her optimism for the transformative potential of the forthcoming Test battles against England and Australia. She believes that these matches can significantly elevate women’s cricket and pave the way for more Test matches in the future, which she deems vital for the growth of the sport.
"This year we have two Tests – one against England and one against Australia – and I hope those games can make a huge impact on women’s cricket and hopefully in the future we will keep getting more Test matches. We have to bring back Test matches in women’s cricket because it’s very important for women’s cricket," Harmanpreet emphasized.
Looking back at the past, the last instance of multi-day domestic women’s cricket in India took place in the 2017-18 season. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) organized a compelling inter-zonal three-day tournament, complemented by an enthusiastic inter-zonal Under-19 two-day championship. Harmanpreet acknowledges the progress made, including the introduction of the Women's Premier League (WPL), but her nostalgia for the extended cricketing encounters of earlier times remains strong.
"Even though we’ve made good progress, I really miss the old times when we played cricket for two or three days. I’m hopeful that as we get ready for the upcoming Test matches, we might bring back those shorter games. Lots of cricket happening will make women’s cricket even better," Harmanpreet reflected.