Women’s Premier League (WPL)
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) is a professional women’s T20 cricket league in India, organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). It is one of the biggest steps taken to promote women’s cricket in the country and across the world.
Beginning of WPL
The WPL was officially launched in 2023. It was created on the lines of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and quickly became one of the most popular women’s cricket leagues globally. The main aim of WPL is to give women cricketers a strong platform, financial support, and global exposure.
Format of the Tournament
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Format: T20 (20 overs per side)
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Teams: 5 franchise teams
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Matches: League stage followed by playoffs and a final
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Players: Indian and international women cricketers
Each team plays against the other teams in the league stage. The top teams qualify for the playoffs, and the best two teams fight for the WPL trophy in the final.
WPL Teams
The five teams participating in the WPL are:
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Mumbai Indians Women
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Delhi Capitals Women
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Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women
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UP Warriorz
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Gujarat Giants
Each team represents a major Indian city or state and includes star players from India and around the world.
Star Players
WPL features many top women cricketers such as:
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Smriti Mandhana
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Harmanpreet Kaur
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Meg Lanning
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Ellyse Perry
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Sophie Ecclestone
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Jemimah Rodrigues
These players bring high-quality cricket, making the league exciting and competitive.
Importance of WPL
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Provides equal opportunities for women cricketers
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Improves the standard of women’s cricket
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Encourages young girls to take up cricket as a career
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Offers big salaries and sponsorships
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Increases global recognition of women’s sports
Impact on Indian Women’s Cricket
Since its launch, the WPL has helped Indian women cricketers gain confidence, experience, and financial stability. Young players get to learn by playing alongside international stars, which helps improve their performance at the national level.
