As the Indian Premier League (IPL) took the centre stage in 2008, the franchise-based competition has largely benefitted men’s cricket. With the tournament’s popularity increasing every year, cricketers from less popular nations are also given a chance to hone their skills in the showpiece T20 event of the world.
With women’s cricket witnessing a rise in India, fans have been demanding for a full-fledged Women’s IPL (WIPL) for quite some time now. While a lot goes behind the scenes to start a league, WIPL fills all the boxes to make it to the universe of franchise-based tournaments.
Hinting at the same, the BCCI president Sourav Ganguly informed that the Women’s IPL could soon become a reality as the board plans to start it from 2023 onwards. Ganguly added that the tournament is currently in the formulation level and next year would be a good time to begin its inaugural season.
“We are at the level of formulation to have a full-fledged WIPL. It is certainly going to happen. 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.” Ganguly informed PTI
BCCI have received a lot of criticism recently with delay in starting a full-fledged WIPL being one of the reasons. However, an official statement from the board president himself will certainly reduce the growing pressure on them.
Women’s T20 Challenge to mark its return
Meanwhile, the Women’s T20 Challenge will return after a one-year hiatus. The tournament started in 2018 and includes three teams with a format in which every side plays against each other once before the summit clash. It is expected to happen during the IPL playoffs in May.
“The Women’s T20 Challenge will again be back this year in the month of May. Hopefully, in the future, we will be able to host a bigger women’s IPL once the number of women players goes up. But this year, the Women’s T20 Challenge will happen during the IPL playoffs,” Ganguly said as quoted by Sportstar