By S.N. Venkatnag Sobers

After establishing themselves as one of the most prolific and sought-after franchises in Karnataka men’s cricket, the Mysore Warriors are now ready to make a mark in women’s cricket. The team is set to compete in the upcoming KSCA Maharani Trophy T20 Tournament, scheduled to take place from Aug. 4 to 10 at the Alur Grounds in Bengaluru.

The Warriors have appointed former India international and Ekalavya awardee Karuna Jain as Head Coach. Under her guidance, the women’s squad has been undergoing intensive preparations for the tournament. The team will be led by Shubha Satheesh, a seasoned player who has represented the Indian Women’s Test team.

The line-up boasts significant experience, featuring senior players such as Sahana S. Pawar, who has played for India ‘A’ Women, Karnataka Senior Women and RCB; Pooja Kumari, a member of the Karnataka Senior Women’s team; and P. Rohita Chowdry and Shishira A. Gowda, both seasoned Karnataka representatives. Their presence adds depth and stability to the squad.

In addition to Shubha, team includes three Mysuru-based players — Deeksha J. Honnushree, Tanvi Raj and Kusuma Gowda — further strengthening local connect.

Assisting Karuna Jain in coaching duties will be S. Rajath, a Mysuru-based coach credited with nurturing several women cricketers who have gone on to represent Karnataka at various age levels, including one who broke into the national side.

With comprehensive training facilities and strong backing from the franchise management, Mysore Warriors Women are determined to put up a commanding performance and aim to bring the Maharani Trophy home to Mysuru.

Women’s cricket is a decade behind at grassroots: Arjun Ranga

Arjun Ranga, Managing Director of Cycle Pure Agarbathi, has long been a passionate supporter of sports and a consistent backer of Mysuru’s sporting talent. The company-owned Mysore Warriors franchise is among the most popular teams in Karnataka’s domestic cricket, with players aspiring to represent the side in the Maharaja Trophy organised by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).

Earlier this year, under Ranga’s leadership, the Mysore Warriors Golf Team clinched the inaugural Mysore Golf League (MGL). Now, expanding its sporting footprint, the franchise is set to make its debut in women’s cricket with the Mysore Warriors Women’s team.

Star of Mysore caught up with Arjun Ranga to discuss the motivation behind this move into women’s cricket and the road ahead for the Warriors franchise. Excerpts…

Star of Mysore (SOM): What inspired the Mysore Warriors to venture into women’s cricket?

Arjun Ranga: As a brand, Cycle Pure Agarbathi has always believed in and been empowered by women. Nearly 80 percent of our company’s workforce  comprises women.

For over four decades, we have been engaged in women’s empowerment initiatives through our NR Community Centre and a special school for visually impaired girls. Cricket, we believe, is an equally important arena for women to express themselves, and it felt natural for us to create a women’s team as part of this vision.

SOM: Compared to men’s cricket, there is limited data available on women’s cricket. How did you strategise before the players’ auction?

Arjun Ranga: If you recall, back in 2014 when the Karnataka Premier League began, the data for men’s cricket was roughly where women’s cricket data stands today. At the grassroots level, women’s cricket is about 10 to 15 years behind men’s in terms of statistics and match exposure.

However, sufficient data is available at the State and National levels. We analysed league records of players across various levels and created a pool of around 90 top cricketers in Karnataka. With insights from our coaches, we were able to assemble the squad we wanted.

SOM: What was the idea behind appointing Karuna Jain as Head Coach of the women’s team?

Arjun Ranga: I consulted our men’s team head coach, Rx Murali and shortlisted a few candidates based on his recommendations. He is also the batting coach for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru women’s team, so he has great insights into women’s coaching talent. He felt Karuna Jain would be the perfect fit for us — someone who embodies the brand of cricket Mysore Warriors aspire to play. Her vast international experience and credentials as a certified senior coach make her an invaluable asset to the team.

SOM: Having been actively involved in the players’ auction, how do you rate the current Mysore Warriors women’s team?

Arjun Ranga: We are the only team with five senior cricketers from the Karnataka State side, so I would rate ours among the top teams. That said, the auction went well for all franchises and each team was able to execute its plans effectively. Of course, the auction is only 50 percent of the work — the rest depends on practice and on-field execution, which our coach and support staff are handling brilliantly.

SOM: How do you see this tournament contributing to the growth of women’s cricket in Karnataka?

Arjun Ranga: This is a tremendous initiative by KSCA and its Managing Committee to revive women’s cricket on such a large scale. It will undoubtedly spark interest among youngsters and, importantly, help build a database of player statistics and performance analysis. This is how a foundation is laid — starting small and growing bigger each year. For many youngsters, this is the first real opportunity to showcase their talent. In our team alone, we have six to seven players aged between 15 and 18, and this platform is invaluable for their development.

SOM: Your thoughts on Shubha Satheesh?

Arjun Ranga: She is a fantastic player and a tremendous asset to Mysore Warriors. Shubha will be leading our side in the Maharani Trophy and there’s no better choice. She is only the second cricketer from Mysuru, after Javagal Srinath, to represent India in Test cricket. Her experience and stature make her the perfect leader for our women’s team.

The Warrioress behind Women Warriors

Karuna Jain, a former international cricketer, is a familiar name in the cricketing fraternity, not only in Karnataka but across the country. Born in Bengaluru, she has represented India, Karnataka, Pondicherry and South Zone with distinction.

A wicket-keeper-batter, Karuna donned the India jersey in five Test matches, 44 ODIs and nine T20Is, and was part of the Women’s World Cup squads in 2005 and 2013 as well as the 2014 T20 World Cup.

After announcing her retirement from all forms of cricket in 2022, Karuna transitioned into coaching and has since been mentoring budding women cricketers in Karnataka. She has served as head coach for multiple women’s teams across different age groups. She now steps into a new role — leading the Mysore Warriors women’s team at the inaugural KSCA Maharani Trophy T20 Tournament, scheduled to be held in Bengaluru from Aug. 4 to 10.

Star of Mysore caught up with Karuna Jain at the SDNR Wadiyar Stadium in Mysuru to discuss the team’s preparations and her thoughts ahead of the tournament. Excerpts…

Star of Mysore (SOM): What are your thoughts on the Maharani T20 Tournament being organised by KSCA for the first time?

Karuna Jain: We are delighted. There had been discussions on two or three occasions earlier about organising this tournament, and I’m glad it’s finally happening in a full-fledged manner this year. More importantly, I’m happy for the girls — many of them come from mofussil centres like Hubballi, Dharwad, Mangaluru and Mysuru, apart from Bengaluru. This platform allows them to perform and showcase their skills.

SOM: How do tournaments like these benefit women cricketers?

Karuna Jain: Tournaments of this nature are a big opportunity for cricketers who are not yet part of the State team. Competing alongside and against players who are already performing at the highest level helps improve their skills and raises their competitiveness. It also pushes them to prepare better and put in extra hard work to ensure they make it to State teams in future tournaments, which I believe is a crucial factor in their development.

SOM: Could you tell us about the current Mysore Warriors women’s team?

Karuna Jain: I’m very happy with how things have progressed so far. Before the auction, we had a clear idea about the players we wanted — particularly Shubha Satheesh, a Mysuru native, to lead the side.

We were also keen to bring in senior player Shishira. Along with them, we have Pooja Kumari and Sahana, who are part of the State’s core team, making this a well-balanced squad. In addition, several talented youngsters have joined, bringing a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the team.

SOM: Having played international cricket, how do you think women’s cricket has evolved?

Karuna Jain: It has surely moved onward and upward. Since 2017, women’s cricket in the country has grown tremendously, and with the advent of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), the pace of evolution has been even quicker.

A lot of youngsters have taken up cricket over the past two to three years. Besides Karnataka’s talent pool, several other young players have been part of the auctions. Karnataka, in particular, has a strong bench strength of young cricketers who will certainly give tough competition to senior players.

SOM: Compared to earlier days, women cricketers are receiving a lot of popularity and attention. What do you have to say about this change?

Karuna Jain: Ever since India reached the semi-finals and finals of the World Cup, women’s cricket has gained tremendous momentum. Today, matches are telecast live across the world, which was unimaginable about a decade ago when there were fewer matches and hardly any live coverage. The exposure has motivated players to put in greater effort and work even harder.

In Karnataka, the women’s U-19, U-23 and senior teams have been performing exceptionally well across formats. The U-19 girls’ team, in fact, have been champions twice before, and I can confidently say that the current team is one of the best — they have some brilliant batters you will soon see making their mark on the field.

SOM: Where do you think the Indian women’s team is lacking, given that they have not been able to win a World Cup despite reaching the finals on three occasions?

Karuna Jain: I think we have faltered in crunch situations. Players from England and Australia face high-pressure moments more frequently due to the numerous leagues they participate in, which mentally prepares them for those critical stages.

That said, our performance over the last two years has been outstanding. I genuinely believe we have a strong chance of lifting the ODI World Cup this year, especially with the home advantage. Of course, Australia remains a formidable side given their consistent success, but with our current form — particularly after beating England in England — I’m optimistic that we can carry this momentum and finally clinch the title.

SOM: Coming back to the Maharani Trophy, how do you assess the chances of the Mysore Warriors team?

Karuna Jain: We’ve been preparing well for the tournament. Both the senior players and I are confident about performing well. Once confidence sets in, the atmosphere within the team becomes positive and energised. With the backing of our team owner, Arjun Ranga, we’ve managed to put together the squad we wanted. We’re mentally prepared, and if everything goes according to plan, Aug. 10 — the final day — isn’t too far for us to aim for.

SOM: Your thoughts on the Mysore Warriors team management?

Karuna Jain: Sheer brilliance. Honestly, I had never given much thought to preparations before the players’ auction, as it was my first experience in this format. But Arjun Ranga had already worked out six to seven different team combinations in advance. On the day of the auction, I wasn’t nervous at all because I was surrounded by a group of people who were well-experienced and well-prepared.

The management has been outstanding and has provided us with everything we’ve asked for. For instance, when I requested open-wicket practice sessions, they immediately shifted us to Mysuru to ensure the players had the best facilities to train. With such support from the management, the onus is now on the players to step up and deliver on the field.

New role beckons for Shubha Satheesh

Shubha Satheesh holds the distinction of being the first woman cricketer from Mysuru to represent the Indian Women’s Cricket Team. She made her domestic debut for Karnataka in 2012 against Andhra Pradesh and has since carved a formidable career, amassing 1,275 runs in 52 Women’s List A matches. Her standout season came during the 2020-21 Women’s Senior One Day Trophy, where she was the fourth-highest run-scorer with 346 runs, including four half-centuries.

Shubha’s international breakthrough arrived in 2023 when she debuted in the lone Test against England at D.Y. Patil Stadium, Mumbai, scoring an impressive 69 runs in the first innings. Though injury sidelined her from the subsequent Australia series, she bounced back strongly, featuring in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Women’s team that clinched the 2024 Women’s Premier League title.

Now, Shubha steps into a new role — captaining the Mysore Warriors Women in the inaugural KSCA Maharani Trophy T20 Tournament.

Star of Mysore caught up with Shubha during the team’s training session at SDNR Wadiyar Stadium to discuss preparations, leadership and the road ahead. Excerpts…

Star of Mysore (SOM): What are your thoughts on KSCA organising the Maharani Trophy for women cricketers in Karnataka?

Shubha Satheesh: I am thrilled that KSCA and the franchisees have come forward to organise this tournament. It’s a great platform for all of us to showcase our skills in the field. Such tournaments not only help us perform but also prepare us for bigger stages like the WPL, as well as national and international competitions.

SOM: How has the Mysore Warriors team been preparing for the tournament?

Shubha Satheesh: Preparations have been excellent. We have a well-balanced team with a mix of experienced and young cricketers. The team is excited and looking forward to the tournament. We are confident of doing well and aiming to emerge victorious.

SOM: How do you feel about leading the Mysore Warriors in the inaugural tournament?

Shubha Satheesh: It is a matter of great pride for me, being a Mysurean, to lead the Mysore Warriors team. I am thankful to the management for trusting me with this responsibility. As captain, I hope we perform well and bring home the title in this very first edition.

SOM: As a senior cricketer, how do you think your experience will help the team?

Shubha Satheesh: I am very happy with the team we have. I believe we have one of the best squads, and my goal is to help us lift the trophy in this inaugural season. My experience, along with that of other senior players, will come into play in handling pressure and crucial match situations. It’s equally important for the youngsters to learn to adapt to such challenges, and tournaments like this are perfect for giving them that exposure.

SOM: India will be co-hosting the Women’s ODI World Cup later this year. Are you looking to make a comeback to the Indian team?

Shubha Satheesh: Definitely yes. I have been preparing myself with that goal in mind. I aim to represent India in all three formats — Tests, ODIs and T20s. My job is to focus on playing good cricket and performing consistently; the rest is in the hands of the national selectors.

SOM: What would you like to say about the Mysore Warriors team management?

Shubha Satheesh: The Mysore Warriors management is one of the best I’ve been associated with so far. They have been outstanding in providing us with top-class facilities and support. The way they treat the players is commendable, and they ensure that all our needs are met — often even before we ask for them.