Women’s IPL could be a gamechanger

IPL heralded a new era in the cricketing world. There’s no reason the women’s tournament, with some careful planning and robust promotion, can’t do the same

It has been a while coming, but the women’s Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to become a reality in early 2023. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will likely give its seal of approval at Tuesday’s Annual General Meeting – a recognition and validation of the rapid strides the women’s game has made in the country in the last few years. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led India’s dominant Asia Cup win caps a great season, after winning silver at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and clinching a One Day International series in England.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will likely give its seal of approval at Tuesday’s Annual General Meeting – a recognition and validation of the rapid strides the women’s game has made in the country in the last few years. (Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

The IPL is likely to be a five-team tournament, with competition among zonal, rather than venue-based, teams. The 22 matches – teams will play each other twice, the table-topper will qualify directly for the final and the next two teams will play in an Eliminator to take the other spot – will be at IPL or non-IPL venues. Each team will have 18 members with a maximum of five overseas players allowed in the playing eleven.

This promises to usher in a new era in women’s cricket in India. For the women’s team, reaching the 2017 World Cup final was a watershed moment, and qualifying for the 2018 T20 World Cup semi-finals and the 2020 T20 World Cup final added momentum. Australia, the gold standard in women’s cricket, benefitted hugely from the women’s T20 Big Bash League – where top Indian players such as Ms Kaur and Smriti Mandhana also participate.

IPL, since it was launched in 2008, changed the landscape for promising new talent. In a country where many women still battle social prejudices and family opposition, the women’s league can be a gamechanger, allowing many young girls to see cricket as a viable career option. IPL heralded a new era in the cricketing world. There’s no reason the women’s tournament, with some careful planning and robust promotion, can’t do the same.