WPL 2023: BCCI Plans On Shifting The WPL To Be Held Around Diwali

by CA Desk 1April 15, 2023

Last Update on: April 15th, 2023 at 01:43 pm

BCCI are planning to shift the Women’s Premier League (WPL) to around Diwali time to have a gap between it and the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The inaugural season of WPL in 2023 was held in the month of March, with the final taking place a mere 5 days before the start of IPL. Harmanpreet Kaur led Mumbai Indians Women to become the first-ever champions of the new league, defeating Meg Lanning’s Delhi Capitals Women in the final.

While the newly proposed timeslot will clash with the festive season in India, BCCI are looking to increase the gap between the two leagues, because they will introduce the home-away format in the league.

Also read: “We Are Surely Looking At Home And Away Format” – Arun Dhumal Reveals The BCCI’s Plan For The Second Season Of WPL

Speaking about the possibility of this plan coming to fruition, BCCI secretary Jay Shah had this to say –

“We are mulling the possibility of scheduling the WPL, in the home and away format, in the Diwali window; not two seasons in a year but just a different time window.”

Also read: WPL 2024 To Have Bigger Window, Home And Away Format From Second Edition: Report

WPL 2023 was played in Mumbai’s Brabourne and DY Patil Stadiums, saving travel costs for the upstart leagues. But taking it to multiple cities might mean that the board has faith in the league’s success.

WPL has a dedicated audience, says Jay Shah

BCCI secretary Jay Shah claims that WPL has been a big success in its inaugural season, that the league has a dedicated audience and the board expects it to grow exponentially in coming years.

The Women’s Premier League was a huge success, reaching 50.78 million viewers in its first year, with the final between MI-W and DC-W accruing over 10 million viewers on its streaming platform alone.

“Women’s cricket now has a dedicated audience base and this number will only keep growing as we expect an encouraging turnout at the next WPL,” said Shah.

The secretary also complimented BCCI for its “capability to pull off” an event like the Women’s Premier League, saying –

“The WPL 2023 bears testimony to BCCI’s capability to pull off a first of its kind event, aided by the continued growth trajectory that women’s cricket in India is on.”

Also read: Inaugural Season of TATA WPL on JioCinema Delivers the Highest Viewership on any Women’s Event Globally

If IPL’s trajectory after its inaugural season is anything to go by, WPL can see a massive increase in popularity and revenue in the coming years.