The Women's Indian Premier League (WIPL) is a professional Twenty20 cricket league for women in India, modelled after the men's Indian Premier League (IPL). Women's Indian Premier League is owned and operated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The first season will be played in March 2023 in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai with five franchises taking part.
The inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League Player Auction saw a total of 87 Players going under the hammer and INR 59,50,00,000 splurged collectively amongst the five franchises - Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and UP Warriorz.
The Genesis
In February 2022, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly announced plans to start a women's version of the Indian Premier League, the major men's Twenty20 competition in India, replacing the Women's T20 challenge. By August 2022 plans were more advanced and in October the BCCI announced that they were considering a five-team tournament which would take place in March 2023. This league was informally known as the Women's Indian Premier League; however, on 25 January 2023 the BCCI officially named it the Women's Premier League. On 28 January 2023, the BCCI invited bids for the league's title sponsorship rights until 2027.
Women's Indian Premier League 2023 in March
The first season of the league is scheduled to be played from 4 March to 26 March 2023, and will feature 22 matches, all held at Brabourne Stadium and DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai.
The Business of Women's Premier League 2023
Like IPL, WPL is also expected to be a big commercial hit. Investors brought the initial franchise rights in January 2023 through a closed bidding process, raising a total of ₹4,669 crore (US$580 million).
A number of companies responded to the sale of franchise rights which were sold for five years, from 2023 to 2027. Adani Group won the rights to the Ahmedabad franchise for ₹1,289 crore (US$160 million), Indiawin Sports Pvt Ltd, part of Reliance Industries, won the Mumbai franchise for ₹912.99 crore (US$110 million), GMR–JSW cricket Pvt Ltd won the Delhi franchise for ₹810 crore (US$100 million), Capri Global holdings won the Lucknow franchise for ₹757 crore (US$95 million), and Royal Challengers Sports Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of alcohol manufacturing company Diageo, won the Bangalore franchise for ₹901 crore (US$110 million).
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Team
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City
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Owners
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Royal Challengers Bangalore
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Bangalore
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Diageo
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Delhi Capitals
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New Delhi
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JSW Group–GMR Group
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Gujarat Giants
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Ahmedabad
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Adani Group
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UP Warriorz
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Lucknow
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Capri Global
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Mumbai Indians
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Mumbai
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Indiawin Sports
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The BCCI intends to distribute 80% of the profits from the competition among the franchise owners during the first five years. For the next five seasons, 60% of the profits will be shared, and from seasons 11 to 15, 50% of the profits will be distributed. Additionally, 80% of the revenue from the central licensing rights for the competition will be shared with the franchises. Franchises will generate revenue through merchandise, ticket sales and advertising
Player auction fetch big money
The inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League Player Auction saw a total of 87 Players going under the hammer and INR 59,50,00,000 splurged collectively amongst the five franchises - Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and UP Warriorz. The auction saw a balance of experience and exuberance earn big with domestic talent being rewarded alongside globally popular overseas stars. The first-ever bid in the history of the WPL Player Auction turned out to be the most expensive one of the 2023 edition as the Royal Challengers Bangalore went all guns blazing to get Smriti Mandhana for a whopping INR 3.40 Crore. On the other hand, Indian cricket team captain, Harmanpreet Kaur joined the Mumbai Indians for INR 1.80 Crore. All-rounder Deepti Sharma and Jemimah Rodrigues made massive gains after being bought by UP Warriorz for INR 2.60 Crore and Delhi Capitals for INR 2.20 Crore respectively. Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner and England’s Natalie Sciver topped the charts amongst the overseas players. The drama and excitement in the bidding wars were just glimpses of what promises a breathtaking and enthralling inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League.
Broadcasting Rights controlled by Mukesh Ambani’s Viacom 18
In January 2023, Mukesh Ambani controlled Viacom 18, announced it had acquired the global media rights for TV and digital broadcasts for the tournament. The contract will run for five years and was worth ₹951 crore (US$120 million).
Researchers at the Rediffusion Red Lab reached out to 24 clients and 17 media buyers to gauge sentiment and vibes around WIPL, which predicts a positive future for the league. “In 10 years, the League will be as good a money-spinner as the Men’s IPL. The sale of the teams for such large amounts, and the media rights too, point to the BCCI being onto a good thing. The tiny minority that said yes felt that it is all speculation – the league is never going to be even a fraction of the men’s version,” said the report penned by Rajendra Gupta, Chief Growth Officer, Rediffusion.
Conclusion
Former India captain Mithali Raj has claimed that the Women's IPL will be a game-changer for women's cricket and the sport in general. Women cricketers definitely have what it takes to bring new audiences for brands. Now, brands need to follow the same route as they did in 2007 for Men’s IPL and unleash a marketing blitz. Overall, the introduction of the WIPL is a positive development for women's cricket in India and is likely to lead to increased interest, investment, and opportunities for female cricketers in the country.
