Introduction:
The Women IPL 2023 (Indian Premier League) is a professional T20 cricket league for women that is set to launch in March 2023. The tournament will replace the previous competition, the Women’s T20 Challenge, and is being launched in response to the growing popularity of women’s cricket in India.
The tournament will feature five teams playing against each other in a double round robin league, followed by a play-off stage. The competition will run for the entire month of March, with fixtures yet to be confirmed.
Format:
The Women’s IPL will feature five teams playing against each other in a double round robin league. This means that each team will play two matches against each of the other four teams, one at home and one away.
After the double round robin, the top four teams will then progress to the play-off stage, with the winner being crowned the champion of the Women’s IPL 2023.
Squads:
Each team in the Women’s IPL must have a squad of 18 players, with a maximum of six overseas players. The playing XI can have up to five overseas players, but only four from Full Member nations, with the fifth player coming from an Associate Member nation.
Under-19 cricketers are not eligible for selection unless they have already played first-class or List A cricket.
Salary Cap:
The salary cap for each squad in the Women’s IPL is set at INR 12 crore (USD 1.5 million). This ensures that each team has a fair chance to build a competitive squad and also helps maintain the financial stability of the tournament.
Women IPL 2023: The Inaugural Edition of the Women’s IPL – Season Overview & IPL Squad 2023
Auction:
Details of the auction are yet to be confirmed, but it is expected to be held in February. Rumours are rife that India’s most famous female cricketer, Mithali Raj, who retired from international cricket last year, may be making herself available for the competition, having expressed an interest in returning to cricket for the tournament.
Broadcast Deal:
The media rights to the Women’s IPL 2023 have been purchased by Indian network Viacom18 for INR 951 crore (USD 117.5 million), making it one of the most valuable T20 leagues in the world.
The deal is for five years, running from 2023-2027, with matches to be broadcast on the Sports18 TV channel and livestreamed on the JioCinema app.
Conclusion:
The Women’s IPL 2023 is an exciting addition to the world of women’s cricket, offering a platform for female cricketers to showcase their skills and talent. With five teams competing in a double round robin league, followed by a play-off stage, the tournament promises to be filled with intense competition and high-quality cricket.
The current salary cap of INR 12 crore (USD 1.5 million) ensures that each team has the resources to build a strong and competitive squad. The broadcast deal with Viacom18, worth INR 951 crore (USD 117.5 million), ensures that the tournament will receive widespread coverage and reach a wide audience.
The Women’s IPL 2023 is sure to be a huge success and provide a boost to the growing popularity of women’s cricket in India.
What is WPL:
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) is an upcoming women’s Twenty20 cricket franchise league in India. It is owned and operated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The first season will be played in 2023 in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai with five franchises taking part.
The predecessor of the WPL was the Women’s T20 Challenge which started as a single-match tournament in 2018, and expanded to a three-team, three-match competition held in 2019, 2020 and 2022.
In October 2022, the BCCI announced that they were considering a five-team tournament which would take place in March 2023. The new tournament 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.
