Women’s Premier League sells for $890 million

The five franchises for the inaugural Women’s Premier League in India have been sold for $890m.

The five franchises for the inaugural Women’s Premier League in India have been sold for $890m.

Suzie Bates playing in the Women’s T20 Challenge in India in 2018
Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The WPL, which takes place in March, is a women’s version of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the world’s biggest Twenty20 franchise competition.

Owners of three existing IPL teams – Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals – secured the rights for women’s franchises.

The other two teams were awarded to Adani Group and Capri Global.

Those sides will be based in Ahmedabad and Lucknow respectively.

The owners of four other IPL franchises, Kolkata Knight Riders, Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad, were unsuccessful with their bids.

Former England cricketer and BBC Test Match Special commentator Isa Guha described the deal as “a landmark day for the women’s game.”

The Board of Control for Cricket in India previously sold the media rights for the WPL to Viacom 18 for approximately $184m.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah described the deal as “transformative” for women’s cricket.Cricket-Women’s IPL franchises fetch $572 million for Indian board

The Adani group made the highest bid of approximately $245m to buy the Ahmedabad franchise, while Capri Global Holdings Private Limited agreed to pay $144m for Lucknow.

-BBC