WOMEN’S CRICKET

Women’s Premier League (WPL): Teams, Format, History & How It Works

The Women’s Premier League (WPL) is the most influential domestic competition in women’s cricket.

Built to combine elite playing standards with global visibility, the league has reshaped professional opportunities for players and accelerated the growth of the women’s game in India and beyond.

Introduction

The Women’s Premier League (WPL) has quickly become the most influential domestic competition in women’s cricket.

Launched to provide elite playing standards, financial security, and global visibility, the league represents a turning point in the professional structure of the women’s game.

Organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the WPL follows the T20 format and brings together leading Indian and international players in a short, high-intensity season. Since its launch, the league has attracted strong broadcast audiences, record investment, and widespread attention — helping accelerate the growth of women’s cricket in India and worldwide.

What Is the Women’s Premier League (WPL)?

The Women’s Premier League is India’s top domestic women’s T20 tournament, created to offer a professional platform comparable in scale and visibility to the men’s Indian Premier League.

The WPL replaced the Women’s T20 Challenge, a short exhibition competition held between 2018 and 2022. Plans for a full franchise-based league were announced in early 2022, with the WPL officially named later that year.

The inaugural season was played in 2023, marking the beginning of a structured, commercially backed domestic ecosystem for women’s cricket in India.

WPL Teams

The WPL currently features five franchise teams representing major Indian cities:

  • Mumbai Indians Women
  • Delhi Capitals Women
  • Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women
  • UP Warriorz
  • Gujarat Giants

Teams are assembled through an auction system designed to balance Indian and overseas talent while maintaining competitive parity across the league.

WPL Format Explained

The WPL follows a standard T20 structure:

League Stage

  • Five teams compete in a double round-robin format
  • Each team plays every other team twice
  • Points are awarded for wins

Playoffs

  • The top three teams qualify
  • The team finishing first advances directly to the final
  • The second- and third-placed teams contest an Eliminator

Final

  • The Eliminator winner faces the league-stage leader to decide the champion

Net run rate is used as the primary tiebreaker when teams finish level on points.

WPL Auction, Salaries & Player Contracts

Player recruitment in the WPL is conducted through an auction system:

  • Each franchise operates under a defined salary cap
  • Squads must include between 15 and 18 players
  • A maximum of six overseas players are allowed per squad

The first WPL auction was held in February 2023. Subsequent seasons have used a combination of mini-auctions and full auctions, with auction purses increasing as the league expanded commercially.

Auction Purse & Salary Structure

  • Franchise purse: ₹15 crore
  • Tiered salary slabs for retained and auctioned players
  • Retention and Right-to-Match (RTM) options available within defined limits

The WPL has established the highest salary benchmarks in women’s domestic cricket, significantly improving long-term career prospects for players.

WPL History & Key Milestones

Despite its short history, the WPL has already produced several defining milestones:

  • Record-setting player auction values
  • Rapid growth in stadium attendance
  • Strong television and digital viewership
  • Increased pathways for young domestic players

These developments underline the league’s rapid rise in both sporting and commercial terms.

Why the WPL Matters for Women’s Cricket

The impact of the WPL extends far beyond the tournament itself:

  • Financial stability: Higher salaries and multi-year contracts allow players to focus on cricket full-time
  • Domestic depth: Franchises actively scout talent from India’s domestic system
  • Global exposure: Broadcast reach has expanded the international profile of women’s cricket
  • Performance standards: Regular competition alongside elite players has raised technical and fitness benchmarks

The WPL now acts as a central engine driving the modern growth of the women’s game.

WPL vs Other Women’s Leagues

Compared with competitions such as the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) and The Hundred (Women), the WPL currently stands out for:

  • Higher average player earnings
  • Stronger commercial backing
  • Broader broadcast reach
  • Larger global visibility

While other leagues remain important to the international calendar, the WPL has set a new benchmark in scale and influence.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does WPL stand for?

Women’s Premier League.

How many teams compete in the WPL?

Five franchise teams.

Is the WPL the biggest women’s cricket league?

In terms of investment, visibility, and commercial impact, it is currently the most influential.

How many overseas players are allowed?

Teams can include up to six overseas players in their squad, with a maximum of four in the playing XI (with limited exceptions).

What time do WPL matches usually start?

Most matches begin in the evening local time, with afternoon starts used on select matchdays.