<p>Former India captain <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/mithali-raj" target="_blank">Mithali Raj </a>is keeping her options open for the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/womens-ipl-set-to-take-place-in-march-with-5-teams-max-five-overseas-players-in-playing-eleven-1153289.html" target="_blank">women's IPL tournament</a> slated next year -- player or mentor or even owning a team.</p>.<p>The BCCI recently announced that the inaugural women's IPL will take place in March next year before the men's tournament.</p>.<p>"I am keeping that role open, whether as a player or in a franchise in some way as a mentor," she told <em>PTI </em>in an interview on Tuesday.</p>.<p>"But right now, nothing is clear, there are five teams...how they are going to do, whether it's a bidding or auction, so until there is some concrete information, I am keeping pretty much all things open," said Mithali, who retired from international cricket earlier this year.</p>.<p>Asked if owning a team is an option, she said, "Maybe, yes".</p>.<p>Mithali recently made her debut as a commentator and termed it an "interesting phase".</p>.<p>"I am watching cricket from a very different optics. I still do feel the nerves if it's a tight game. I still have to cross that barrier of not feeling those emotions of a player," the former India skipper, who was here for an event, said.</p>.<p>"I am just testing the waters if I am apt for commentary. Maybe after a few months, I will see if I still have keenness to pursue it."</p>.<p>On attracting more young girls to take up cricket as a career, she said the first edition of the under-19 World Cup next year is a major step forward and termed it a big platform.</p>.<p>Asked what more needs to be done to further promote women's cricket after BCCI's announcement on equal match fees for its centrally-contracted female and male players, she said nothing changes overnight and there's time for everything.</p>.<p>"Currently, one should appreciate the things that are improving and bolstering women's cricket higher, whether it's match fee, women's IPL and Women's Under-19 World Cup first edition next year," she said, adding that the good changes that have happened should be amplified a lot more.</p>.<p>"That will probably lead to further changes," she said.</p>.<p>Mithali said she is working on her autobiography and is looking at releasing it in the middle of next year.</p>
<p>Former India captain <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/mithali-raj" target="_blank">Mithali Raj </a>is keeping her options open for the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/womens-ipl-set-to-take-place-in-march-with-5-teams-max-five-overseas-players-in-playing-eleven-1153289.html" target="_blank">women's IPL tournament</a> slated next year -- player or mentor or even owning a team.</p>.<p>The BCCI recently announced that the inaugural women's IPL will take place in March next year before the men's tournament.</p>.<p>"I am keeping that role open, whether as a player or in a franchise in some way as a mentor," she told <em>PTI </em>in an interview on Tuesday.</p>.<p>"But right now, nothing is clear, there are five teams...how they are going to do, whether it's a bidding or auction, so until there is some concrete information, I am keeping pretty much all things open," said Mithali, who retired from international cricket earlier this year.</p>.<p>Asked if owning a team is an option, she said, "Maybe, yes".</p>.<p>Mithali recently made her debut as a commentator and termed it an "interesting phase".</p>.<p>"I am watching cricket from a very different optics. I still do feel the nerves if it's a tight game. I still have to cross that barrier of not feeling those emotions of a player," the former India skipper, who was here for an event, said.</p>.<p>"I am just testing the waters if I am apt for commentary. Maybe after a few months, I will see if I still have keenness to pursue it."</p>.<p>On attracting more young girls to take up cricket as a career, she said the first edition of the under-19 World Cup next year is a major step forward and termed it a big platform.</p>.<p>Asked what more needs to be done to further promote women's cricket after BCCI's announcement on equal match fees for its centrally-contracted female and male players, she said nothing changes overnight and there's time for everything.</p>.<p>"Currently, one should appreciate the things that are improving and bolstering women's cricket higher, whether it's match fee, women's IPL and Women's Under-19 World Cup first edition next year," she said, adding that the good changes that have happened should be amplified a lot more.</p>.<p>"That will probably lead to further changes," she said.</p>.<p>Mithali said she is working on her autobiography and is looking at releasing it in the middle of next year.</p>