The Women’s Premier League (WPL) has experienced remarkable growth over the past three years, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is not looking to expand the tournament just yet. Despite initial plans to introduce more teams after three seasons, the focus is now on strengthening the existing structure. “To further strengthen this tournament for the time being, we want to consolidate before we take a call on further addition of any team. There are no immediate plans (to add teams),” said IPL chairman Arun Dhumal, who is also part of the WPL committee led by BCCI president Roger Binny.
Dhumal expressed satisfaction with the rapid rise of the WPL, highlighting its increasing popularity and impact on women’s cricket globally. “So, within three editions, WPL has grown phenomenally in terms of traction, for in-stadium attendance. All the broadcast numbers are very, very encouraging. And it has given new impetus to women’s cricket worldwide. So, we are hoping this continues to grow. And this augurs very well for not only the tournament, but women’s cricket in general,” he added.
The WPL, unlike the Indian Premier League (IPL), has yet to adopt a home-and-away format. Instead, the latest edition, which concluded on March 15, was hosted across multiple venues, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Baroda, and Lucknow. Mumbai Indians emerged as champions for the second time in three years, defeating Delhi Capitals in the final.
The league has already established itself as a financial powerhouse. The BCCI generated ₹4670 crore from the sale of the five franchises representing Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, UP, and Gujarat. Additionally, media rights were sold for ₹951 crore, making the WPL the second-largest women’s league in the world even before a match was played.
While crowd attendance for most games was promising, the league’s primary goal remains the promotion of women’s cricket in India and the discovery of emerging talent. There is still room for improvement on that front, as the WPL continues to evolve and shape the future of the women’s game.
