Women's Premier League (WPL) Explained: India's New Women's Cricket Franchise

The Women's Premier League (WPL) launched in March 2023 as India's answer to the extraordinary success of the IPL — a fully professional franchise T20 competition for women's cricket. Backed by the BCCI with multi-crore franchise bids and broadcast deals, the WPL immediately became the most lucrative women's cricket competition in the world. Its launch represented a watershed moment for women's cricket in India and globally.

The Five Franchises

• Mumbai Indians: owned by Reliance Industries (same ownership as men's MI), won the inaugural WPL title in 2023
• Royal Challengers Bangalore: home of Smriti Mandhana, strong local following
• Delhi Capitals: backed by JSW Sports and GMR Group
• UP Warriorz: franchise based in Uttar Pradesh, Alyssa Healy as marquee international player
• Gujarat Giants: franchise based in Gujarat, targeting local fan base development

The Auction: Record Prices for Women Cricketers

The inaugural WPL player auction in February 2023 broke records for women's cricket. Smriti Mandhana became the most expensive player, sold to Royal Challengers Bangalore for INR 3.4 crore (approximately USD 400,000) — several times higher than any previous women's cricket contract. Australian star Beth Mooney and England's Nat Sciver-Brunt also fetched significant sums. The auction attracted players from 13 countries, reflecting the competition's global appeal.

Smriti Mandhana: The WPL's Icon

Smriti Mandhana is India's most celebrated women's cricketer and the WPL's marquee star. Her elegant left-handed stroke play, particularly her off-side driving and powerful pull shot, has made her one of the most watchable batters in women's cricket. She is the ICC's highest-ranked women's batter, a three-time ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year nominee, and her presence in the WPL's Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise significantly drove viewership in Karnataka. Her endorsements now rival some male IPL players in value.

Broadcast Deal and Viewership

The WPL's media rights were sold to Viacom18 for INR 951 crore over five years — a sum that exceeded most national women's cricket board annual revenues combined. Free-to-air broadcast on JioCinema attracted audiences of 20-30 million for key WPL matches, figures that would represent exceptional viewership for many established men's cricket events in other countries. The broadcast deal gave the WPL immediate financial sustainability unlike any women's league before it.

Comparison to the IPL

While the WPL is still in its infancy compared to the IPL's 15+ year history, several structural parallels are already apparent. Franchise values have risen in secondary transactions since the inaugural auction. Domestic women's players in India now have financial security and professional contracts previously unavailable. Critics note that the WPL currently uses only venues in three cities (Mumbai, Delhi, and a third rotating venue), unlike the IPL's nationwide format, limiting grassroots reach. Expansion to more cities is widely anticipated.