Sydney Thunder signing Harmanpreet Kaur the first Indian player to join WBBL franchise

HARMANPREET Kaur’s only impressions of Australia’s Women’s Big Bash League come from short clips she watched online from her home in India.

And she liked what she saw.

Now, the Indian ODI vice-captain will become the first woman from her country to join a WBBL franchise after she signed on to help Sydney Thunder defend the inaugural women’s Twenty20 title.

Kaur will pad up for WBBL2 in Sydney this summer after the BCCI finally approved its female players participating in foreign leagues.

The talented cricketer, who just last year helped lead India to a T20 International series win over Australia, said the WBBL was the world’s premier women’s competition.

“I have watched clips online because this tournament is a huge platform for all women cricketers all around the world,” she said.

“I hope there will be a huge push for women’s cricket in India after this.

“When an Indian cricketer is going to play in foreign leagues, there would definitely be an increase in support for women’s cricket in India.”

The 27-year old all-rounder has played 118 times for India across all formats and her signing with the Thunder ended a battle between five WBBL clubs chasing her signature.

The chance to play alongside Southern Stars vice-captain Alex Blackwell and work with the likes of Australian cricket legend Mike Hussey ended up swaying Kaur to sign with the Thunder.

“Playing with the best players against the best players is always a great feeling,” Kaur said.

“I would definitely learn a lot of things from them all. I have always respected them watching them playing.”

While Kaur’s signing is undoubtedly a boost for women’s cricket in India there will also be massive benefits for the WBBL as Cricket Australia continues trying to grow the women’s game.

Sydney Thunder general manager Nick Cummins believes cricket-mad fans from the subcontinent cheering on their home-grown stars in an Australian competition will be huge for the WBBL.

“We are delighted to secure a player of the calibre of Harmanpreet,” he said.

“She was on the top of our target list, and we are very pleased that the BCCI has released her to play in Australia.”

Kaur’s signing completes the Thunder’s maximum roster of five international stars. She joins Southern Stars players Blackwell, Rene Farrell and Erin Osborne as well as West Indies talent Stafanie Taylor.

Sydney Thunder will begin their defence of the Women’s Big Bash League when they play the Melbourne Stars at North Sydney Oval on December 10.

That match will be the first time a stand-alone women’s sporting competition will be broadcast in prime time on a free-to-air television network’s flagship channel.