For far too long, women’s cricket had to wait to get the much deserved recognition, the same level of attention and support as men’s cricket. Though equality may be still some distance away, the intent seems right, and the market has responded well with leading corporates coming forward to invest in the women’s game.
The Indian women’s cricket team may not have won a World Cup yet. However, by reaching the finals in 2005 and 2017, they have earned respect for themselves.
Last year, when the Women’s Premier League (WPL) was finally unveiled by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), it provided a ray of hope for women cricketers. The T20 league not only helped the players improve upon their finances but also provide them with a platform to showcase their talent to the world.
Designed on the lines of the high-profile Indian Premier League (IPL) which has revolutionised the men’s game in many ways, WPL can be considered as a women’s version of IPL.
In the first edition itself, the league left a huge impression. According to official broadcaster Jio Cinema, WPL 2023 delivered the highest viewership for any women’s event globally with over 10 million people tuning in to watch the finals between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals.
As in the inaugural edition, five franchises battled to pick their desired players for the second season in an auction held in December 2023. The minimum base price for players was set at Rs 10 lakh, and quite a few players were bought for multiple crores as well.
Infact, during 2024 WPL auction, two young, uncapped players crossed the 1 crore mark. Vrinda Dinesh and Kashvee Gautam fetched Rs. 1.3 crore and 2 crore respectively. It marked a defining moment in women’s cricket in India.
Young players and their parents alike, watching the auction from home, would no longer think of women’s cricket as a financially unstable, in a country as big and diverse as ours, where few women are encouraged to take up ‘sports’ as a viable career option as compared to men.
But, women’s cricket receives only 1/8th viewership as compared to men’s cricket reflecting the staggering gender bias in the sports ecosystem of the country. During last season, WPL was watched by 50 million viewers across television and digital platform as compared to over 400 million for IPL.
Hence, WPL is important for the growth and development of women’s cricket in India and also to reduce this viewership gap. The league will also provide a platform for emerging talents to showcase their skills, attract new fans, and inspire the next generation of cricketers.
As the league continues to grow and develop, there will be more opportunities for women cricketers, increased viewership, and greater recognition for the sport.
