With women’s cricket at an all-time high in India after their first World Cup victory, the fourth edition of the Women’s Premier League begins on Friday.
Cricket fans were enthralled with India’s success in the 50-over event held at home in November.
Five teams are vying for a spot in the February 5 final of the WPL, a Twenty20 competition that is the mainstay of the nation’s women’s sport.
The Mumbai Indians, the reigning champions, take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the opening match under the leadership of India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who is one of the biggest names in the WPL, along with other national stars Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, and Smriti Mandhana.
Following the World Cup, overseas cricket stars, including Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner and Phoebe Litchfield, South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt, and New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr are all playing.
“In the last three years the WPL has grown in leaps and bounds,” an AFP report quoted Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Mithun Manhas as saying.
“With the kind of performances they have shown with the World Cup win, I’m sure things will keep on rising for Indian cricket and the WPL.”
Marizanne Kapp, a fast bowler for the Delhi Capitals and South Africa, claimed that the WPL, the women’s version of the wildly popular IPL, had changed everything.
“People don’t always understand how important these leagues are for women’s cricket. When you look at the youngsters coming through now, a lot of that is thanks to leagues like the WPL,” Kapp was quoted as saying to Cricbuzz.
As demonstrated by their first World Cup victory, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla claimed that India’s women’s players have caught up to the established powers.
“Initially Australian, England and South African players, they were doing wonders, and in comparison to them, our players were not of that standard. But now I see that they can defeat them. People never used to send their daughters to play cricket… now I am seeing thousands of girls coming for trial,” Shukla said.
Even though they are still insignificant compared to IPL earnings, certain players’ World Cup exploits resulted in big WPL salaries.
New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr was the highest expensive foreign purchase in last year’s auction when she returned to Mumbai Indians for Rs 3 crore.
India all-rounder Deepti will join UP Warriorz for Rs 3.20 crore, making her the second most expensive player in league history.
As they pursue their first WPL championship, the Delhi Capitals reinforced their roster with World Cup stars like Wolvaardt and Rodrigues.
Major endorsement deals and WPL advertising hoardings are dominated by Bengaluru captain Mandhana and Kaur.
The 277 million viewers of the World Cup final equaled those of the previous men’s T20 World Cup final, according to the International Cricket Council (ICC), marking a “new era” in the sport.
It is hoped that the record-breaking viewership will convert into WPL viewing numbers, according to broadcaster JioStar.
Before the WPL provided an unprecedented financial bonanza, Australia’s Women’s Big Bash League, which was established in 2015, opened more possibilities for female cricketers.
The WPL swiftly established itself after being introduced to the IPL as a curtain-raiser.
The Indian cricket board received roughly 700 million dollars in franchise and media rights from the first WPL season in 2023, making it the second most valuable women’s sports league in the world behind the WNBA in the US.
Jay Shah, the current ICC chairman and former secretary of the BCCI, has long advocated for gender parity by introducing equal match payments for men and women.
Jayesh George, chairman of WPL, has lofty dreams.
“We should go on par with IPL in the next couple of years,” George said.
