Mithali Raj joins Gujarat Giants as mentor in WPL

Adani Sportline, who recorded the highest bid to own one of the five franchises in the inaugural Women's Premier League, has announced Mithali Raj as their mentor and advisor for the Gujarat-based side. 

In a social media post shared by Pranva Adani, the Managing Director of the Adani Group announced the decision to have the former skipper onboard in what is going to be a historic first season of the WPL. 

Adani Sportsline’s is jubilant to have on board Padma Shri and former Indian captain of the women’s national #cricket team, Mithali Raj as a mentor & advisor for the women’s premier league. We all are looking forward to scoring some great innings with this partnership. @M_Raj03

— Pranav Adani (@PranavAdani) January 28, 2023

"The inaugural season of the WPL is a fantastic move for women's cricket, and the involvement of the Adani Group is a massive boost for the sport as well. Women's cricket is growing steadily, and this kind of impetus will undoubtedly encourage young women to consider taking up cricket professionally,"  Mithali said, as quoted by Cricbuzz. 

"I believe that the high-impact participation of corporates will help hasten the process of eventually bringing more glory to India. This level of influence can help strengthen the sporting ecosystem and enhance opportunities for women athletes," she further added. 

The 40-year-old will also help grow the sport at the grassroot level in Gujarat as part of the programme, and Pranav Adani is thrilled to have her as a role model for the next generation of players. 

"Mithali Raj is a role model for the young generation and we are delighted to have such an inspirational athlete on board to mentor our women's cricket team," he said.  

"While we have supported many other women players in different sports through our 'Garv Hai' initiative, this is the first time the Adani Group has ventured into women's cricket, and we are privileged to be able to promote women in sports through the inaugural WPL," he concluded. 

The WPL is scheduled to take place in March, with five teams set to fight for the coveted trophy is a 20-day tournament.