Former England wicketkeeper and current Gujarat Giants fielding coach Sarah Taylor believes the Women’s Premier League (WPL) has fast-tracked the evolution of women’s cricket in India, particularly in terms of power-hitting and match awareness.

“It’s scary how fast they’re improving”: Sarah Taylor on India’s new era

In an interview with Press Trust of India (PTI), Taylor highlighted how dramatically the landscape has changed in just one year. According to her, Indian women’s cricket is moving beyond its traditional reputation for elegance and timing, embracing power and athleticism at an unprecedented pace.

“They’re on their way. It’s scary where the girls were last year and where they are now,” Taylor said. “The power coming into the domestic game here is incredible. In five years, India will be absolutely flying.”

Taylor noted that even players who do not appear physically imposing are now clearing the ropes with ease – something that was far less common in the Indian women’s game a few years ago.

One of the most striking changes, according to Taylor, is the normalization of six-hitting across the domestic circuit. She pointed out that young Indian batters are no longer limited by physique when it comes to generating power.

“You’ve got young girls who are tiny but hitting sixes straight down the ground,” she explained. “That power just wasn’t part of the game earlier.”

This shift, Taylor believes, is a direct result of better training methods, increased confidence, and regular exposure to high-quality competition – elements the WPL has brought together in a single ecosystem.

WPL: A perfect launchpad for India’s global success

Taylor emphasized that the WPL has arrived at the perfect time for India, especially with the Women’s T20 World Cup scheduled to be held in the UK later this year. She believes the league has prepared Indian players for the pressures of elite tournaments by replicating high-stakes environments.

“They’re playing under lights, in tight games, with some of the best players in the world,” Taylor said. “They’re watching how top international players go about their cricket and picking up little titbits.”

The experience, she added, ensures that young Indian players will walk into the World Cup with confidence rather than intimidation. “Going into the World Cup, these girls should have no problems. They’ve been there, done that.”

Young talent like Anushka Sharma signals a bright future: Taylor

Taylor also singled out emerging names such as Anushka Sharma as symbols of India’s promising future. She praised the hunger to learn among young players, calling it the driving force behind their rapid improvement.

“They want to learn, and that’s the most beautiful thing,” she said. “They’re only going to get better.”

According to Taylor, the combination of raw talent, exposure, and a growth mindset could make India one of the most dominant forces in women’s cricket over the next decade.

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Sarah Taylor reflects on her early retirement from international cricket

Apart from the WPL, Taylor also reflected on her own international career and clarified that her decision to retire from England duty at the age of 30 was not solely about mental health, as widely believed. Instead, she said it stemmed from clarity around selection and contracts.

“From a factual point of view, I knew, given the meetings that were taking place, that I wasn’t going to be offered a contract,” she revealed. “I didn’t particularly want that meeting, and it became a case of saying, ‘Cool, I’m done then.’”

Taylor described her retirement as a rational conclusion to what she termed a “wonderful career,” adding that the experience has shaped her approach as a coach.

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

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