Women’s T20 challenge Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
The women’s version of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be starting next year, if recent reports are to be believed. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has started preparing for the hosting of the inaugural edition of the WIPL in March next year. The board has already tweaked the women's domestic calendar to accommodate the women's IPL.
The BCCI has decided to start the senior women's season for 2022-23 on October 11 with the T20 competition, and end in February next year with the inter-zonal one-day competition. Generally, the women's season stretches from November to April. “The BCCI has earmarked a window in March 2023 for the inaugural women's IPL, and the process to get the show on the road is underway,” reads an excerpt from an ESPNCricninfo report.
The board officials have been continuously batting for the inaugural edition of the Women’s IPL. BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had said a few months back that the women's IPL would be held in 2023. "We are at the level of formulation to have a full-fledged WIPL. It is certainly going to happen," he had said. "I strongly believe that next year i.e. 2023 will be a very good time to start a full-fledged women's IPL which will be as big and grand a success as men's IPL."
Meanwhile, board secretary Jay Shah had affirmed that existing franchises in the IPL have shown interest in buying a WIPL team and the first edition of the tournament may feature five-six teams. "I am thrilled at the kind of response we have got from stakeholders. Multiple existing IPL teams have enquired and expressed serious interest in owning WIPL franchises,” Shah had said.
Notably, owners of Rajasthan Royals and Barbados Royals (CPL) have publicly expressed interest in buying a Women’s IPL team. Meanwhile, the Knight Riders group who are on an expansion spree (having invested in UAE’s ILT20 League) are also keen to invest in the WIPL. It’s also reported that existing IPL franchises will be given the first right of refusal when it comes to buying teams.