– A Day to make the cricketers from the women team, “Highest paid athletes” in the world of sport

Franchise cricket has played a big role in the development of the T20 game specially for women cricket with Big Bash League and The Hundred.

Franchise cricket in England and Australia has made both these countries to be more competitive and the standard of play is for everyone to see. Australia are the current favourites to lift the T20 Worldcup for 2023. They winning the T20 Worldcup 2023 will not be a news anymore but if they slip up in the tournament will be a talking point, such is their dominance in the game. This proves that League cricket is the future.

India’s Women Premier League (WPL) is looking to replicate the positives of BBL and the Hundred. Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants, Royal Challengers Bangalore and UP Warriorz will be the new owners in the first edition

The Inaugural player auctions for the most awaited India’s very own Women’s Premier League was held today by the BCCI in Mumbai.

Women Cricket has seen franchise cricket in the Hundred and Big Bash League but the magnitude of the WPL like IPL is incomparable for its sheer size of the overall package it brings into the game

The Women’s Indian Premier League (WPL) will change the entire landscape of women cricket in India and also make the game interesting due to the participation of the best of the best in the game from all countries Which will be the real highlight.

Some Key Highlights of the T20 (WPL) Women’s Indian Premier League 

• A total of 409 players are set to go under the hammer in the WPL 2023 Auction
• 246 Indian Players and 163 overseas Players including 8 from the associate nations will be part of the Premier League Auction
• WPL will see 5 Overseas Foreign players in the playing eleven which will help domestic players to learn from the international players and will be a catalyst in their personal growth
• Every team in the WPL 2023 Auction has a 12 crore Budget set by BCCI to make up their team so spends will not be emotionally taken to select their 15 to 18 players which includes 6 overseas players
• The Lowest base Price in the Premier League Auction for capped payers is Rs 30 Lacs. Already an amount more than the Big Bash League or Hundred offers to the main marquee players
• With Team owners entering the league with record breaking bids and with the broadcasting rights earning the WPL has already become the most lucrative women’s cricket league in the world. The League will be even richer once BCCI finalises the Title Sponsors.

409 list of potential players would have an eye on the TV sets to know if they made it to the biggest league for Women’s Cricket today.

While finalising the Title Sponsors can wait, today it was the player’s turn to make the big money this sport has to offer

WPL 2023: Big Names Roped in As Support Staff                             

Big Bucks awaits the Coaching Support Staff in the WPL who has relatively been under the radar of the press in the Women’s game. The league will bring in foreign coaches, bowling analysts from all countries batting consultants which will only help Indian cricket in the long run

Nooshin Al Khadeer – Coach of winning u19 World Cup team and Domestic season winners is in the Ahmedabad camp with Racheal Green from Australia as the Head coach. Not sure why Green was brought in when you already have Nooshin in your team.

Mithali Raj, Charlotte Edwards and Jhulan Goswami and Lisa Sthalekar have all taken coaching or mentor roles in other franchise team.

Where will the WPL Franchise Focus                                               

Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants, Royal Challengers Bangalore and UP Warriorz will have the advantage of Stats and reports of all the players and each players contribution in the shortest format. Indian Stars will be doing the rounds and will garner the biggest purse. The franchise will focus more on domestic talents and the recent winners of the U19 Worldcup will be high on demand. Some numbers may make some big noise. Franchise may like to spend more and have a good 15-member team and not want to save and make an 18-member team

The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023 Auction Begins                

• The Women’s Premier League Logo was Launched by BCCI
• BCCI President Roger Binny gave the inaugural introduction and welcomed all the Franchise Owners
• Malika Sagar was the Auctioneer and it was a brilliant move from BCCI to get a female Auctioneer

The Sign Ins

The Auction saw a whooping 87 players sold for a sum total of Rs 59.50 Cr, Smriti Mandhana was the most expensive Indian Pick while Nat Sciver was the biggest foreign buy.

While SuperSports had mentioned that unlike the IPL first Auction, Players will be bought in WPL more for performance than on player reputation. This Auction did see some Emotional buys but the majority of the buys was on value to benefit ratio

WPL 2023: My top Foreign Buys                                     

• Marizanne Kapp going at Rs 1.5 Cr was a real steal specially when they went slow during the Auction.
• Tahlia Mc Grath going for Rs 1.4 Cr again a great Steal for UP Warriorz.
• Nat Sciver will blend well in the Mumbai Indians family and she being the most expensive player in the Mumbai team will carry expectations.
• Hayley Mathews was unsold in the first round only to be picked up at base rate of 40 Lakhs which in my view was the best buy in the auction. 4 overs and a opening bat. Great Buy
• Jess Jonassen also came unsold in the first round only to be roped in cheaply at 50 lakhs
• Ash Gardner and Beth Mooney was bought on expected lines at a high price and in line with Gujarat’s Strategy to have a dominating International Influence on the team. But Alice Capsey, England’s new wonder kid went for a steal.

WPL 2023 My Top Indian Buys                                 

• Harmanpreet has to be the biggest steal of the auction going for Rs 1.8 Cr Specially after how Smriti was bought by RCB in the First Buy in the auction.
• Radha Yadav going for Rs 40 Lakhs was a surprise as their name came out in the later half of the auction.
• Deepti Sharma deserved a Rs 3 Cr Tag, She was a steal for the UP Warriorz who had a great auction.
• In Indian conditions, Rajeshwari Gaikwad not being sold was a shocker for me and she will play a big Role for UP Warriorz.
• U19 Star Shweta Sherawat going for Rs 40 lakhs was also a highlight of this auction.

WPL 2023: Players – Over Spend – worst Buys in the Auction according to Supersports360 Team                                                 

• Yastika Bhatia going for Rs 1.5 Cr when the best in the business Alyssa Healy going for Rs 70 Lakhs tells us how unpredictable Auction can be.
• Dane Van Niekerk was a surprise. RCB will struggle to play their 5 foreign players in each match considering the injury concerns with the former South African Captain.

FAQs

• Who Is the Auctioneer for WPL

Mallika Sagar

• Where can I watch Women’s IPL 2023

The event can be viewed liver on the Network18 sports channels as Viacom18 had won the broadcasting rights to the WPL 2023. The event will be live-streamed on the Jio Cinema app.

• What are the WPL teams

The five teams are Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, RCB, Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz.