WPL Explained — Women's Premier League India Format, Teams & History
The Women's Premier League (WPL) is the BCCI's franchise T20 tournament for women launched in 2023. Learn the WPL format, the five teams, how auctions work, and why WPL is challenging the WBBL as the world's premier women's T20 league.
The Women's Premier League (WPL) is a franchise T20 cricket tournament launched by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in 2023, modelled on the Indian Premier League (IPL). With five franchise teams, a mini-auction format for player acquisition, and matches hosted in India's major cricket stadiums, the WPL represents the most significant investment in women's franchise cricket outside Australia and is widely considered a transformative development for women's cricket globally.
The five WPL franchises
The WPL launched with five teams: Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and UP Warriorz. These franchises are owned by the same entities as their IPL counterparts (except UP Warriorz, which is independently owned). Each franchise paid a franchise fee to the BCCI at auction — the fees total over ₹4,670 crore across the five teams, reflecting substantial investor confidence in the commercial potential of women's franchise cricket.
WPL format and season schedule
The WPL runs in February–March, before the IPL season begins. The league phase has each of the five teams playing the other four teams twice (8 matches per team, 20 league matches total). The top three teams from the league phase advance to the knockout stage: the top team plays the second-placed team in Qualifier 1 (winner goes directly to the final); the loser of Qualifier 1 plays the third-placed team in an Eliminator; the winner of the Eliminator plays in Qualifier 2 for the second final spot. This format is identical to the IPL playoff structure.
International players and the player auction
WPL teams can include a limited number of overseas players per match (typically 4 in the playing XI). The player auction has attracted international stars from England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the West Indies — breaking the historical barrier where the BCCI restricted Indian domestic players from participating in overseas leagues. Top overseas names like Sophie Ecclestone, Beth Mooney, and Hayley Matthews have all featured in WPL squads, raising the competition's quality significantly.
Frequently asked questions
Who has won the most WPL titles?
As of 2025, Mumbai Indians won the inaugural WPL title in 2023, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru won in 2024. The WPL is still a young competition, with only a few editions completed.
Is WPL bigger than WBBL?
In terms of commercial scale and investment, WPL is already rivalling or surpassing the WBBL. The Indian market, BCCI resources, and massive IPL infrastructure give WPL an advantage in prize money and broadcast reach. However, the WBBL is considered by many to still have a higher average standard of play due to Australia's depth in domestic women's talent, and the WBBL has a longer history of professional structure.
When did Indian players start playing in overseas leagues?
Historically, the BCCI did not allow Indian players (men or women) to participate in overseas franchise leagues. With the launch of WPL, the BCCI's position on women's overseas participation has evolved — some Indian women cricketers have been permitted to play in the WBBL and other leagues. The exact policy continues to evolve as women's franchise cricket grows.