Many talented players were left out. So, we can clearly see that five teams are too few compared to the growing pool of women cricketers. Saikia’s comments came a day after the WPL 2027 auction was held in Kochi, where around 150 players went under the hammer, with only 25 cricketers securing spots across the league’s five franchises. The WPL was launched in 2023 with five teams, and the 2027 season will be held from January 14 to February 7. “There are about 150 players in the fray and hardly 25-27 could be accommodated.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will discuss expanding the Women’s Premier League (WPL) beyond five teams from next year, secretary Devajit Saikia has said.
It is not only about the players; coaches, selectors and various other stakeholders are involved in this ecosystem,” Saikia said in a video posted on the WPL’s social media handles on Thursday. “From next year, we will definitely have brainstorming sessions on increasing the number of teams, as well as improving other areas. With only five franchises, the WPL can accommodate only a limited portion of India’s rapidly growing domestic talent pool. The addition of one or two teams, along with a possible increase in team budgets, would create more opportunities for players to be part of the competition. “The overall ecosystem has benefited positively from the WPL. This is a wonderful beginning and a wonderful journey, and I hope the league will grow by leaps and bounds in the coming years,” Saikia added. That is a success. We want to bring more women cricketers into the game and make them part of this success story in Indian women’s cricket.
He also welcomed the selection of 15-year-old uncapped all-rounder Uma Kashvi, who was picked by Delhi Capitals for Rs 10 lakh. “I am very happy that a young girl of 15 years has got an opportunity to play in the WPL.
Saikia further credited the WPL for playing a major role in India’s growth in women’s cricket, pointing to the national team’s ODI World Cup triumph last year.
Today, India are among the dominant forces in women’s cricket, and the WPL has contributed significantly to that success,” he concluded. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) “We are the reigning world champions, and that reflects the impact the WPL has had on women’s cricket across the country. The WPL is now one of the biggest franchise leagues in the world after the IPL. “If you look at the journey over the last four years, we have come a long way.
