With the T20 World Cup less than six months away, Indian women’s cricket is entering a decisive phase where every competitive outing doubles as preparation. For medium-pacer Renuka Singh Thakur, the challenge lies in navigating a packed calendar without losing sight of the larger goal.
Fresh from India’s ODI World Cup triumph, Renuka, who will play for Gujarat Giants (GG) in the fourth season of Women’s Premier League, starting Friday, views the tournament not as a standalone tournament, but as a vital step on the road to the global event in June.
“Everything will be important now. Our team has discussed about the T20 World Cup that will be held in the next six months. We will be preparing for that. This is the platform where we can experience things. We can work on different things. We haven’t got much time yet, but we have a lot of time to change things,” she told The Indian Express in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.
The pacer, who played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru for three seasons, will turn out for GG, who will be led by Ashleigh Gardner. While the attention towards the women’s game has grown, the calendar has tightened, and the expectations have risen. But the core philosophy, she insisted, did not change. Good cricket, backed by hard work, remained the focus – with the WPL serving as a proving ground for the biggest tests in the future.
“There is no such thing. Just good cricket. If you play good cricket, you will definitely get good results. I believe in hard work. God will give what he wants,” she said.
Handling adulation
The months following India’s ODI World Cup win have brought a noticeable shift in attention. Recognition, media requests, and public appearances are now part of the routine and Renuka admits she is still adjusting.
“I have to get used to it. It’s reassuring that people are asking me questions. We have been thinking for a long time about when people would ask us questions. Thank God we are getting all these things,” she added.
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Renuka Thakur of India bowls during the 3rd T20I match between India and Sri Lanka at Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram, India, on December 26, 2025. (CREIMAS for BCCI)
The WPL itself has evolved rapidly since its inception. In the early seasons, teams leaned heavily on overseas players to deliver results. Renuka believes that the equation is changing as Indian players gain confidence and exposure.
“There are a lot of players coming through. Six months ago, players like Kranti (Gaud) and Sree Charani came from WPL, and they left an impact on the World Cup,” the medium-pacer said.
Beyond individual breakthroughs, Renuka pointed to a deeper transformation in belief. “The mindset changes a lot. Six months ago, no one thought that they would play in India or win a trophy. Think about how much change there is for Indian cricket,” she added.
Increased game time
The growth, however, has come with a demanding schedule. Renuka acknowledged the toll of playing continuously across formats and competitions. “There are a lot of matches now. Since I have been playing in India, I don’t get much time to rest. But it feels good to see that Indian cricket has grown a lot,” she said.
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Structural improvements at the domestic level have also reinforced that sense of progress, and she thanked Jay Shah for his role in empowering the women’s game. “The domestic match fees have also increased. It feels good to hear that. How many more people will play cricket? Everything is happening because of Jay Shah. He supports women’s cricket a lot,” Renuka added.
On the field, WPL preparation is sharpened by the presence of experienced international players in the GG setup. Renuka has previously bowled alongside Australia’s Kim Garth and valued the learning that comes from shared experience. “I have already played cricket with her. She was in RCB as well. It was fun to bowl with her. We often discuss what to do and what is better. I have a good bond with her,” she said.