Entering the WPL era.

With the auction now done and dusted, we are very much into the action of the inaugural Women’s Premiere League (WPL). The tournament was long time due with the Women’s Big Bash League already having completed 8 seasons. The BCCI did conduct a mini version in Women’s T20 challenge which had 4 editions with 3 teams. But it still wasn’t a proper tournament. So, the WPL was definitely long time in the making. And I am glad the first season is nearly upon us.

Less than 3 weeks ago the 5 teams for the WPL were declared after the auction for the teams was conducted. With the existing 3 franchises from the Men’s IPL participating, the fans of these teams will definitely have an impact on the viewership of the tournament. These teams also bring in the experience they have gained over the years with respect to managing teams. The 2 new teams will also be eager to show their competence in terms of managing franchises.

Coming to the auction, firstly I was thrilled to see a female auctioneer. Mallika Sagar was phenomenal as the auctioneer, conducting the event very confidently and with proper authority. As far the teams are concerned, it was evident that it was the 1st auction from the kind of bidding and planning we got to see. I genuinely feel that the total purse of Rs. 12 crores is a very small amount to accommodate the maximum of 18 players. I know that the league is yet to generate money and prove its potential but I feel the franchises should have been given some more spending power. An average of 1 Cr per player i.e., a total of 18-20 crores would have been fair, with some players bound to demand 2-3 crores with their skills. But I think that aspect will be taken care of next year.

Mandhana was deservingly the costliest pick at 3.4 crores but to my surprise the Indian Captain Harmanpreet Kaur fetched only 1.8 crores. I felt Kaur was a bit underpaid but such is the fate. It was heartening to see players like Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Vastrakar, Shefali Verma, Deepti Sharma fetching good amounts and getting their dues for the efforts they have put in over the years. While many overseas stars like Ashleigh Gardener, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Ellyse Perry bagged good contracts, some players like Dani Wyatt, the explosive England batter along with the former white ferns skipper Suzie Bates did not excite the franchises as much even with their experience. Strangely proven utility players like Sophie Devine, the NZ skipper and Hayley Matthews, the WI skipper were picked at their base prices. I was amazed that a player like Alyssa Healy was picked at as low as 70 Lakhs. I guess the age of these players might have played some part in these decisions.

It is also impressive that the franchises have gone to legends of the women’s game like Charlotte Edwards, Jhulan Goswami, Mithali Raj as coaches and mentors. RCB have gone out of the way with bringing in the tennis star Sania Mirza as the mentor for their women’s team. I feel that is a great example of out of the box thinking and surely Mirza will bring in a lot of valuable inputs for the players, especially the younger ones. The domestic players will also benefit from sharing the dressing room with Indian National Team players and international stars replicating the effect that IPL has on the emerging players.

This first edition of the WPL will be a huge step in the right direction to take the women’s game forward. I hope it exceeds expectations, becomes a historic event and proves to be the perfect launchpad going ahead.


Shreyas Deodhar

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