In a significant step towards strengthening grassroots women’s cricket in Maharashtra, the Nashik District Cricket Association (NDCA) has announced the launch of the Nashik Women’s Premier League (NWPL). The tournament, unveiled on the eve of International Women’s Day, aims to provide a competitive platform for local female cricketers and promote greater participation in the sport across the district.
The announcement was made by NDCA chairman Vinod Shah during a press conference held at the pavilion of Hutatma Anant Kanhere Maidan in Nashik. Several officials, including Sharmila Sali, Sunil Malusare, Nikhil Tipri and Vikrant Mate, were present during the event as the association revealed its plans to organise the inaugural edition of the league later this year.
According to the organisers, the Nashik Women’s Premier League is scheduled to take place in the last week of April and will feature five franchise teams competing for the title. The tournament will follow a league format before moving into the knockout stage, with semi-finals and a final deciding the champion. In total, 13 matches will be played during the inaugural season.
One of the features of the competition will be the player auction system, similar to major franchise tournaments. Players will be distributed among the five teams through the auction, while each franchise will also have its own official jersey and identity, giving the tournament a professional structure. Organisers have also planned several pre-tournament activities, including a trophy unveiling ceremony, player auction event, opening ceremony and closing ceremony.
The league is expected to benefit a large pool of local cricketers. At present, around 150 women cricketers are actively playing in the Nashik district, and the new tournament is intended to provide them with regular high-level competition and greater visibility. NDCA officials believe the league will help bridge the gap between local cricket and higher-level opportunities in state competitions.
Several players from Nashik have already represented Maharashtra in competitions through the Maharashtra Cricket Association. Among them are Ishwari Sawkar, Tejaswini Batwal, Shalmali Kshatriya, Rasika Shinde, Aishwarya Wagh, Priyanka Ghodke, Laxmi Yadav, Prachiti Bhavar, Kartiki Gaikwad and Madhura Dayma, who have played in various age-group tournaments. The new league is expected to provide more players from the district a pathway to follow in their footsteps and potentially represent the state at higher levels.
NDCA officials emphasised that the primary objective of the NWPL is to strengthen women’s cricket at the district level by providing a structured environment for competition and development. The league is also intended to help prepare players for selection in the Maharashtra team while encouraging more girls and young women to take up cricket as a sport.
The association has also called upon the local sports community, businesses and industrial sector in Nashik to support the initiative and help ensure the league’s success. With women’s cricket experiencing rapid growth across India in recent years, organisers hope the Nashik Women’s Premier League will play a key role in nurturing emerging talent and creating new opportunities for players from the region.
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