Women’s Premier League - Finally, the obvious has been officially announced!

$572M USD has been spent on securing the five inaugural teams in the Women’s Premier League, previously known as the Women’s IPL.

The change of name incredibly significant as it is a stamp by the BCCI for this League to become the eminent and ultimate League in the world. Period.

"We take it as a challenge and we will leave no stone unturned to make sure that what we are successful in achieving for WPL what we have done for IPL,” said Arun Dhumal, the chairman of the IPL.

The first season of the Women’s IPL is set to played from March 6 to 26, while the player auction will be held in early February.

The successful bids will see teams in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi and Lucknow who will compete in a season that consists initially of 22 matches.

Each team will be allowed a squad of 15 to 18 players that can include 5 overseas players and 1 player from an associate nation.

The TV rights have been sold to Viacom for the next 5 years at a value of $117M USD that values each match at $870K.

What does this mean?

Plenty. At a scale and magnitude never seen before.

From BBCI Secretary, Jay Shah.

Shah said that WPL was the "second-highest valued" league in cricket after the men's IPL.?

Shah said that the players' auction date was not final, but suggested the first week of February as the likely time for it. The WPL has finalised a purse of INR 12 crore (USD 1.47 million approx.) per team for the first season.

Arun Dhumal, the chairman of the IPL, said “the responsibility lies on our shoulders to see to it that the faith that has been deposed on BCCI, we work extra hard to make sure that this Women's Premier League turns out to be at par with men's league, if not better. "?

From the credentialled team owners, “this is a historic moment for Indian cricket, and we are delighted to be a part of it," said Nita Ambani of Mumbai Indians, which also owns teams in men's T20 tournaments in South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.

This also happens to occur in a week where the ICC are in the final stages of completing a submission for cricket to be included in the Olympic Games for LA in 2028.

The ICC has recommended six-team T20 events for both men and women to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games organising committee (LA28), as it continues its push for cricket to be included in the biggest global sports events.

Change, as never ever seen before, has arrived. ??