Women's Premier League 2023: India's Biggest Women's Cricket Investment
The Women's Premier League (WPL) launched in March 2023 with five Indian city-based franchises, a total media rights deal worth ₹951 crore (approximately $115m), and some of the highest salaries ever paid to women cricketers. This guide covers the inaugural season, the franchise system, and the WPL's global impact.
When the BCCI announced the Women's Premier League in January 2023, many observers noted that even the launch media rights sale — ₹951 crore over five years — exceeded what many national boards earn for their entire cricket operations. For women's cricket globally, the WPL represented a step change: Indian broadcast infrastructure, Indian sponsorship revenue, and Indian cricketing passion applied to the women's game.
The Five Franchises
The five WPL franchises are: Mumbai Indians W, Delhi Capitals W, Royal Challengers Bangalore W, Gujarat Giants W, and UP Warriorz. Each franchise is associated with (and largely owned by) its men's IPL counterpart, bringing established brand recognition, fan bases, and commercial infrastructure immediately. The auction draft in January 2023 set new records for individual player contracts.
The Inaugural Season
The 2023 WPL season ran from March 4-26, played in Mumbai and Delhi. Mumbai Indians Women won the inaugural title, beating Delhi Capitals in the final. Nat Sciver-Brunt won Player of the Tournament. The season attracted strong television audiences and generated significant social media engagement — demonstrating that women's cricket could attract commercial interest when properly marketed and resourced.
Impact on Global Women's Cricket
The WPL immediately changed the financial landscape of women's cricket globally. Players who had previously combined cricket with part-time employment could now earn professional salaries that reflected their elite status. It also created competitive tension with established leagues like the WBBL in Australia and The Hundred in England — adding a third major franchise competition to the women's calendar.
Format
The WPL is a T20 competition — 20 overs per side, 5 teams in a round-robin followed by a playoff. Each franchise can field 4 overseas players (from a maximum of 6 in the squad). The tournament's compact format — played over three weeks in two cities — makes it commercially manageable while maintaining competitive quality.
Frequently asked questions
How many teams are in the WPL?
Five — Mumbai Indians W, Delhi Capitals W, Royal Challengers Bangalore W, Gujarat Giants W, and UP Warriorz. The league expanded from 5 teams with plans to grow.
Who won the first WPL?
Mumbai Indians Women won the inaugural 2023 WPL, beating Delhi Capitals in the final. Nat Sciver-Brunt was Player of the Tournament.
How much are WPL player contracts worth?
Top players earn ₹2-3.4 crore (approximately $250,000-$410,000) per season, making the WPL one of the highest-paying competitions in women's cricket globally.