The Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s candid reflections on the prolonged wait for the Women’s Premier League (WPL) highlight the emotional toll of perceived distrust in Indian women’s cricket talent, the critical gap between domestic and international levels, and how the league’s eventual launch bridged that divide, propelling India to historic success, including their maiden senior ICC title.
The talks of introducing a Women’s Premier League (WPL) gained serious momentum after India, led by former skipper Mithali Raj, finished as runners-up in the 2017 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup. That heartbreaking 9-run defeat to England in the final at Lord’s on July 23, 2017, marked India’s second runner-up finish in the tournament, following the 2005 edition. It was a wake-up call, spotlighting the urgent need for a robust domestic T20 league to nurture talent and close the glaring gap between club and international cricket.
Yet, it took until 2023 for the inaugural WPL to launch. Mumbai Indians, captained by Harmanpreet Kaur, claimed the first title. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, led by Smriti Mandhana, ended their franchise’s 17-year trophy drought by winning the 2024 edition. Mumbai Indians repeated their glory under Kaur in 2025, while RCB secured their 2nd title with Mandhana at the helm in 2026. Remarkably, Delhi Capitals have been perennial bridesmaids, finishing as runners-up in all four editions.
In a recent iQOO Quest Talk podcast hosted by iQOO CEO Nipun Marya, Harmanpreet Kaur opened up about the frustration that simmered for years. “The WPL conversation was going on for a long time, but for some reason, things were not moving forward, and that time we were feeling sad about why they are not trusting us,” she revealed. Her words cut deep, capturing the sense of betrayal felt by players who knew their potential but lacked the platform.
Harmanpreet Kaur pinpointed the core issue: a massive chasm in standards. “There was a very big gap between the domestic cricket and international cricket standards,” she explained. Before WPL, domestic players struggled to adapt to the international stage. “It was not easy for a domestic player to adapt and settle quickly in the international circuit because of the lack of experience of big stage matches,” Kaur added. The management hesitated over “low bench strength and if they could make teams based on the number of players we have,” she noted, underscoring doubts about India’s depth that held back progress.
The WPL’s launch changed everything, fast-tracking players into high-pressure environments and building a deeper talent pool. This payoff shone brightest in 2025, when India, under Harmanpreet Kaur and head coach Amol Muzumdar, clinched their maiden senior ICC title. They thrashed South Africa, led by Laura Wolvaardt, by 52 runs in the final of the 13th ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, hosted across India and partly in Sri Lanka from September 30 to November 2, at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Kaur became the first Indian captain to lift an ICC trophy at home.
The victory parade turned emotional when Kaur handed the trophy to former legends, part of the broadcasting team, Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami, and Anjum Chopra. Tears flowed as they finally held the World Cup, honouring the pioneers who built the foundation for this triumph.
With India, led by Kaur, heading to South Africa for a five-match T20I series from April 17 to 27, 2026, momentum builds toward the 10th ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales (June 12 to July 5, 2026). WPL’s timely arrival has equipped Kaur’s side with the experience and belief to chase more silverware. It’s a quiet reminder that trust in talent unlocks greatness. The WPL didn’t just fill a gap; it ignited a revolution.
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