Women's Premier League (WPL): India's Women's T20 League Explained
The Women's Premier League (WPL) launched in 2023 as India's franchise women's T20 competition. This guide covers the format, the five teams, the inaugural champions, and how the WPL has transformed women's cricket globally.
The Women's Premier League (WPL) is India's domestic women's T20 franchise competition, launched by the BCCI in March 2023. Modelled on the IPL, it features five city-based franchises owned by IPL franchise owners, a player auction, and a schedule of home and away matches leading to a playoff and final. Its launch was transformative for women's cricket globally — the WPL provided the highest-paying women's cricket competition ever seen, attracting the world's best women's cricketers and creating a new benchmark for women's domestic cricket.
The Five WPL Teams
- Mumbai Indians Women — owned by Mumbai Indians, played at Brabourne Stadium
- Delhi Capitals Women — owned by Delhi Capitals
- Royal Challengers Bangalore Women — owned by RCB
- UP Warriorz — owned by Lucknow Super Giants (RPSG Group)
- Gujarat Giants — owned by CVC Capital Partners (Gujarat Titans)
WPL Season 1 — The Inaugural Champions
Mumbai Indians Women won the inaugural WPL title in March 2023, defeating Delhi Capitals in the final at DY Patil Stadium. Nat Sciver-Brunt (England), Hayley Matthews (West Indies), Sophie Ecclestone (England) and Indian stars Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma all featured in the first season. Mumbai Indians' Harmanpreet Kaur won the Player of the Tournament award.
Global Impact on Women's Cricket
The WPL's player auction saw international women cricketers receive fees in the range of USD 50,000-450,000 for a three-week competition — substantially higher than any previous women's domestic contract globally. This drove women's cricket professionalism: England, Australia and New Zealand players could now earn IPL-equivalent income without having to play in a men's competition, which has historically meant women's cricket was severely underfunded by comparison. The WPL is expected to drive ICC investment in women's cricket globally through its commercial success.
Frequently asked questions
How many overseas players can a WPL team field?
WPL teams are allowed to field a maximum of five overseas (non-Indian) players in the playing XI, with a squad of up to 18 players including no more than 6 overseas signings. This ratio is similar to the IPL's rules and ensures Indian players occupy the majority of playing spots while allowing the best international talent to participate.
Is the WPL schedule separate from the IPL?
Yes. The WPL is typically held in February-March, before the IPL season starts in late March. This timing was deliberately chosen to avoid scheduling conflicts between men's and women's competitions, and to allow the WPL to occupy a relatively clear window in the Indian cricket calendar.