With the T20 World Cup lower than six months away, Indian ladies’s cricket is getting into a decisive section the place each aggressive outing doubles as preparation. For medium-pacer Renuka Singh Thakur, the problem lies in navigating a packed calendar with out shedding sight of the bigger aim.
Contemporary from India’s ODI World Cup triumph, Renuka, who will play for Gujarat Giants (GG) within the fourth season of Girls’s Premier League, beginning Friday, views the event not as a standalone event, however as an important step on the highway to the worldwide occasion in June.
“All the pieces will probably be vital now. Our workforce has mentioned concerning the T20 World Cup that will probably be held within the subsequent six months. We will probably be getting ready for that. That is the platform the place we will expertise issues. We will work on various things. We haven’t obtained a lot time but, however we have now plenty of time to vary issues,” she advised The Indian Specific in an unique interview on Tuesday.
The pacer, who performed for Royal Challengers Bengaluru for 3 seasons, will end up for GG, who will probably be led by Ashleigh Gardner. Whereas the eye in direction of the ladies’s recreation has grown, the calendar has tightened, and the expectations have risen. However the core philosophy, she insisted, didn’t change. Good cricket, backed by arduous work, remained the main target – with the WPL serving as a proving floor for the most important checks sooner or later.
“There isn’t a such factor. Simply good cricket. When you play good cricket, you’ll positively get good outcomes. I imagine in arduous work. God will give what he needs,” she stated.
Dealing with adulation
The months following India’s ODI World Cup win have introduced a noticeable shift in consideration. Recognition, media requests, and public appearances are actually a part of the routine and Renuka admits she remains to be adjusting.
“I’ve to get used to it. It’s reassuring that persons are asking me questions. We’ve been considering for a very long time about when folks would ask us questions. Thank God we’re getting all these items,” she added.
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Renuka Thakur of India bowls through the third T20I match between India and Sri Lanka at Greenfield Worldwide Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram, India, on December 26, 2025. (CREIMAS for BCCI)
The WPL itself has developed quickly since its inception. Within the early seasons, groups leaned closely on abroad gamers to ship outcomes. Renuka believes that the equation is altering as Indian gamers achieve confidence and publicity.
“There are plenty of gamers coming via. Six months in the past, gamers like Kranti (Gaud) and Sree Charani got here from WPL, they usually left an influence on the World Cup,” the medium-pacer stated.
Past particular person breakthroughs, Renuka pointed to a deeper transformation in perception. “The mindset adjustments lots. Six months in the past, nobody thought that they might play in India or win a trophy. Take into consideration how a lot change there may be for Indian cricket,” she added.
Elevated recreation time
The expansion, nonetheless, has include a demanding schedule. Renuka acknowledged the toll of enjoying constantly throughout codecs and competitions. “There are plenty of matches now. Since I’ve been enjoying in India, I don’t get a lot time to relaxation. But it surely feels good to see that Indian cricket has grown lots,” she stated.
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Structural enhancements on the home stage have additionally bolstered that sense of progress, and he or she thanked Jay Shah for his function in empowering the ladies’s recreation. “The home match charges have additionally elevated. It feels good to listen to that. What number of extra folks will play cricket? All the pieces is going on due to Jay Shah. He helps ladies’s cricket lots,” Renuka added.
On the sector, WPL preparation is sharpened by the presence of skilled worldwide gamers within the GG setup. Renuka has beforehand bowled alongside Australia’s Kim Garth and valued the training that comes from shared expertise. “I’ve already performed cricket together with her. She was in RCB as nicely. It was enjoyable to bowl together with her. We frequently talk about what to do and what’s higher. I’ve a great bond together with her,” she stated.