After India reached the finals of the ICC Women’s World T20 in Australia in 2020, there was a lot of discussion around having a women’s IPL. However, Women’s IPL could only find a place in discussion as there was no material plan to execute it. On the other hand, the IPL which has been running successfully for the last 14 years also failed to generate interest among the concerned authorities to start a Women’s IPL. Finally on Friday, the BCCI woke up and has decided to go ahead with a Women’s IPL starting from next year.
So, the wait is ultimately over for all those fans of women’s cricket who desperately wanted to see a Women’s IPL. On March 25, the BCCI proposed a six-team Women’s IPL that will start from the next year. During a Governing Council meeting of the IPL in Mumbai, it was decided that a six-team annual T20 tournament for women will commence from the next year. At present, there are three teams that form a part of the Women’s T20 Challenge, which is sometimes referred to as Women’s IPL. It is known that the first preference will be given to the existing IPL franchises. If these IPL franchises are interested in floating a women’s team then they can go ahead doing the same. If not, then the BCCI will invite outside parties to own the franchises for the Women’s IPL. However, the six-team Women’s IPL will be a thing for next year. This year, there will be a three-team Women’s T20 Challenge just like it was played in 2019 and 2020.
GREAT NEWS!!
6 Team Women’s IPL to start from 2023, confirmed BCCI at the Governing Council (GC) meeting today😍#CWC22 #IPL2022 #IPL pic.twitter.com/grtuLSq1tP
— Female Cricket #CWC22 (@imfemalecricket) March 25, 2022
Prior to this announcement by the BCCI, the Cricket West Indies had already announced a three-team women’s league that will be played alongside the CPL (Caribbean Premier League). Apart from the Cricket West Indies, PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) has also announced similar plans. With the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) enjoying tremendous success in Australia, it was probably the time for the BCCI to have a women’s T20 league for India. A top BCCI official recently told Cricbuzz that it is the responsibility of the board to start a women’s league, irrespective of commercial returns from the tournament.
I am a former cricketer having represented Mumbai University at All India University level. I was a part of MCA probables for the U-19 and U-23 age group. I have been an avid cricket writer for the last five years. Currently I am pursuing my Ph.D from IIT Bombay.