04 March 2023 , 08:00
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When the Indian Premier League (IPL) launched in 2008, cricket changed forever.
Suddenly, the sport became lucrative and glamorous – capturing a new audience and thrusting the T20 format into the spotlight. For years, Test cricket was the ultimate ambition for all emerging stars. But in the eyes of many, playing in the IPL is now the pinnacle of the men’s game.
Yet a women’s IPL has remained absent throughout the last 15 years, despite several countries launching their own competitions. All that will change on Saturday, though, when the first ever Women’s Premier League (WPL) match takes place in Mumbai.
There is no doubt the WPL is a game changer. It is the most lucrative franchise competition in women’s cricket, with India batter Smriti Mandhana commanding a £340,000 contract and England all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt going for £320,000 during February’s auction. In comparison, the women’s salary band in The Hundred – England’s premier franchise competition – ranges from £7,500 to £31,250. Quite simply, the WPL is offering female cricketers life-changing sums of money.
The five WPL franchises – Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore and UP Warriorz – were sold for a total of £465million and have since assembled some of the best squads ever witnessed in the women’s game. The league has also attracted some of the world’s leading coaches, with Jon Lewis – the England Women head coach – taking charge of the Warriorz.
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Rajesh Sharma, the managing director of the Warriorz and Capri Global Holdings Private Limited, is convinced the WPL is now leading the way in women’s cricket. “I think the Women’s Premier League will be the biggest sporting league among women,” he tells Mirror Sport. “In terms of a large number of viewership, creation of value, and creation of excitement.”
England's Nat Sciver-Brunt is one of the most expensive stars in the Women's Premier League (Getty Images)Are you looking forward to the Women's Premier League? Let us know in the comments below!
Rajesh has highlighted the WPL’s high standard. Several members of the Team of the Tournament for the recent Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa will participate in the new league. As will England’s Sophie Ecclestone, who is currently ranked the world’s No.1 T20I bowler.
“The BCCI [Board of Control for Cricket in India] are very good league owners – in terms of their capability to manage the entire tournament, the hype around it, marketing it [and] creating interest,” adds Rajesh – who has told fans to expect the same “kind of thrill” generated by the IPL.
The WPL is the successor to the Women’s T20 Challenge, which ran between 2018 and 2022. The now-defunct competition was criticised for only having three teams and lasting for just four matches, with fans calling for a proper women’s IPL to be launched. “We want to see it happen,” said Australia’s Alyssa Healy when asked about the idea in 2021.
The men's Indian Premier League has revolutionised cricket (Getty Images)In the eyes of many, the WPL is long overdue. Rajesh believes the time is right because there is “enough” interest from fans. He notes, “A lot of young female players have developed an interest. We have seen a [greater] number of women’s cricket players in the country.
“We’ve seen the kind of response [from launching the league]; the kind of valuation it has got; the media rights it has got. Overall, I think it’s a historical moment where – equally – women’s players will get the opportunity to play. I think this is a very good development.”
Perhaps the biggest beneficiary from the WPL will be the national side. India Women have never won a world title – losing three previous finals – and many critics believe the absence of a women’s IPL has resulted in a lack of success for the cricket-obsessed country.
Australia dominate the women's game thanks to the success of the Women's Big Bash League (Getty Images)Australia are the most triumphant team in women’s international cricket. They are the reigning one-day and T20 world champions and have won eight world titles since 2010. In comparison, England (one title) and the West Indies (one) are the only other nations to taste glory.
Why have Australia been so successful? It is hard to look past the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), which was the biggest women’s cricket competition in the world before the WPL. The WBBL has produced an abundance of world-class Australian cricketers – leaving the rest of the world envious.
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Rajesh believes the WPL will have a similar impact on Indian cricket due to the number of “competitive” games during the tournament. “I think it will shape the Indian players to play [against] international players… it’s going to improve their skill set – bring through new talent.
“Overall, cricket is going to win. The cricket fan is going to see more and better cricket from the women’s side. It is going to inspire so many young players to become cricketers… many young kids – it will inspire [them] to join the cricket from the women’s side. It’s going to have a huge impact.”
Rajesh is also backing the WPL to have a significant influence on women’s cricket in general. He believes it will raise the standard of the game “globally” – just like the IPL has done with the men’s game.
“The WPL has already generated plenty of interest in India and across the globe. As you know, it is the most valued women’s league in the world and the second biggest cricketing league after the IPL.
“The BCCI will also leave no stone unturned, in terms of making it a huge success. We will do everything possible to provide a world-class experience for our cricket, our fans, our stakeholders – everyone.”
It is impossible to predict which team will win the inaugural WPL, but there is no doubting the impact it will have on women’s cricket. This is the competition women’s cricket has been crying out for.