India women's World Cup win energises WPL season

The fourth Women's Premier League begins Friday after India's maiden 50-over World Cup win in November, and five teams will compete for a place in the February 5 final.

The fourth edition of the Women's Premier League (WPL) launches Friday as interest in women's cricket in India has risen following the national team's first 50-over World Cup title on home soil in November. The WPL is a Twenty20 competition that serves as a central domestic event for the women's game in the country. Defending champions Mumbai Indians, who won the WPL in 2025, open the tournament against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Broadcasters and officials have linked the World Cup run to increased viewership and commercial attention for the league. Key details: - The WPL's fourth edition begins Friday with five teams competing for a place in the February 5 final. - India won its maiden 50-over World Cup on home soil in November, an outcome described by the ICC as marking a "new era." - Mumbai Indians are the defending WPL champions and will be led by national captain Harmanpreet Kaur in their opening match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. - Prominent Indian players in the league include Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma and Smriti Mandhana, while overseas names mentioned include Amelia Kerr, Laura Wolvaardt, Ashleigh Gardner and Phoebe Litchfield. - Some players’ World Cup performances translated into large WPL auction fees: Amelia Kerr rejoined Mumbai for $335,000 and Deepti Sharma joined UP Warriorz for $358,000, noted as among the higher amounts in league history. - The WPL's 2023 inaugural season generated about $700 million in franchise and media rights, making it, according to the report, the world's second most valuable women's sports league after the WNBA. Summary: The World Cup victory has contributed to higher public and commercial attention on women's cricket and the WPL. The fourth WPL season starts Friday, with five teams contesting matches through to a February 5 final. Officials and league leaders have spoken about continued growth and the ambition to narrow the gap with the men's IPL in coming years.