Inagural Women's IPL to kick start from 2023

From next year, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is proposing a six-team women's IPL. The Indian Premier League's Governing Council (GC) decided on Friday (March 25) in Mumbai that all efforts will be made to start a six-team annual Twenty20 league for women's cricketers, with first consideration given to the existing IPL clubs. This year, however, the Women's Twenty20 Challenge will be held.

The Governing Council believes the women's IPL has potential, which has been boosted by sponsorship for the Women's T20 Challenge in 2020. The members of the Governing Council, who have met in person for the first time in over two years, have determined that the existing IPL franchises will be asked if they want the women's squad as well. After that option has been exhausted, the BCCI will ask third parties to purchase franchises.

The BCCI has been under pressure to start the women's league due to widespread demand. The Cricket West Indies (CWI) and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) have decided to start a three-team competition this year, while the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has revealed similar plans. A top BCCI official recently informed Cricbuzz that it is the board's duty to launch a women's league, regardless of the tournament's commercial returns.

Another significant move was the GC's approval of the IPL's media rights tender for the season 2023-2027. Most likely, the Invitation To Tender (ITT) document will be released on Monday or Tuesday. Bidding parties will have a variety of alternatives, and it is understood that interested business houses must have a net worth of INR 1000 crore.