The inaugural edition of the Women’s Indian Premiere League (W-IPL) is just around the corner and for the same, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), on the 25th of January is scheduled to conduct the franchise auction. In the lead-up to the action day, the BCCI, on the 23rd of January asked interested business houses to submit technical bids, and with a Men’s IPL-bound franchise backing off after showing keen interest, it’s taken a huge dent upsetting one of the biggest fan bases.
On the day of technical bids submission, while IPL-bound; Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, SunRisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Punjab Kings (no official confirmation) had shown up with bid documents, Chennai Super Kings backed off.
Chennai Super Kings, the four-time Men’s IPL winners are one of the most popular franchises across the globe and with them backing off after showing interest, the franchise has left its fanbase unpleased and upset. Early in June last year, not in as many words, but clear indications from the Chennai Super Kings owners towards owning a franchise in the Women’s IPL were conveyed and time and again, the trend continued, but come the day, the franchise has backed off calling it a strategic business call.
Chennai Super Kings aren’t the only one of the 10 IPL franchises who haven’t submitted the technical bid, but the back off from the franchise after repeatedly showing serious interest now sees them face the expected reaction from fans. If not a direct influence on the auction, be assured of an indirect influence from the Chennai Super Kings as Sriram Group and Sun Network are understood to have submitted the technical bids.
Twitter reactions:
Apart from the Chennai-based franchise, it has been reportedly been understood that the newcomers, Lucknow Super Giants and the Gujarat Titans too have also opted against acquiring a WIPL team, and understandably so as the two franchises are young in terms of experience in the IPL market and would look to strengthen a franchise.
Csk is the only sports unicorn from india. They r purely business ppl who love cricket but they wont let their love overpower the business. They havnt owned any team in ILt20 aswell. If the women ipl is profitable they will participate in no time.
— Arjun (@Arjunwolverine) January 23, 2023
This is hugely disappointing @ChennaiIPL , if this is true. Thoroughly disappointed. https://t.co/NKKUO1no6h
— Ashwin Murali (@ashwinmurali) January 24, 2023
The Misogynist N. Srinivasan was behind this decision… Throw him out of the CSK franchise…. https://t.co/jXkHK1wW6a
— Soumik (@Iamkutubiral) January 24, 2023
Dei @ChennaiIPL this is unfair😤👎 Participating in SA League but not in Indian Women’s League is Worse Decision https://t.co/2zamOETARI
— Ponmani_vj (@ponmanivj03) January 24, 2023
Shocked beyond words! https://t.co/EEaRjVxjea
— Janardhan Sri Sai 🇮🇳 (@Sri_Jaan) January 23, 2023
That’s a shame. Strategic business call? Where is the intent to promote women’s cricket @ChennaiIPL? Disappointed a massive #CSK fan today. https://t.co/Tuvxj8GoyU
— Rajasekar Sukumar (@iRajasekar) January 24, 2023
The Women’s IPL will see players from the Under-19 age brackets to the senior team, take part when it gets on the road from the 4th to the 26th of March for live action. The tournament is highly likely to deliver elite Twenty20 (T20) action as it’ll be played on the back of an Under-19 women’s T20 World Cup and a senior women’s T20 World Cup.