IPL Team Captains. Image Credits: BCCI
Women's cricket has gained significant momentum in the last few years, especially since the WPL got underway in 2023. In addition to the women's league, India's World Cup win in 2025 on home soil was a watershed moment in Indian sport, bringing a lot of eyeballs to the women's game.
Looking at how things are going and the surge of promising up-and-coming cricketers from the domestic circuit, WPL will eventually expand from being a five-team tournament. Without waiting for any expansion announcements, interested buyers are already openly showing interest in investing, having already owned an IPL team.
IPL owner announces interest in buying WPL team
Seeing how the WPL has grown in its early stages, Indian businessman Mohit Burman, who owns 48 per cent stakes at the Punjab Kings opened up about his interest in buying a WPL side. He has also praised the BCCI successfully providing a platform to women cricketers in India.
"The WPL has already established itself as an important platform for the women’s game in a very short period of time. The growth of women’s cricket has been fantastic to witness," he told PTI.
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"As for investment decisions, every group evaluates opportunities differently depending on timing, strategic priorities and long-term business considerations. Not investing initially should not be interpreted as a lack of belief in women’s cricket."
"Personally, I think the future of the women’s game is extremely bright. We would love to own a women’s IPL team," Burman pronounced.
Is BCCI expanding WPL?
Currently, WPL is a five-team league, and three of its owners also own IPL teams. The Mumbai Indians and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru have won two WPL titles each, while the Delhi Capitals have made it to every final since the league's inception.
Despite the Dabur Chairman, Burman's interest in getting a Women's PBKS team, the BCCI currently has no immediate expansion aspirations. Right now, the focus is on consolidation before taking such calls, according to the IPL chairman.
"To further strengthen this tournament for the time being, we want to consolidate before we take a call on further addition of any team. There are no immediate plans [to add new teams],” Arun Dhumal had said.
WPL's role in changing Indian Women's Cricket
For years, Indian Women's team has been among the top-3 or 4 teams in the world, who are consistently in reckoning to be in the knockouts of ICC events. They also made multiple final appearances at the world stage before the WPL.
The women's cricket powerhouse, Australia, has WBBL in place since 2015/16, where Indians also feature regularly. The high-quality cricket in these leagues and overseas players in the dressing room grooms younger talent much faster and it has been evident in Australia's success.
Despite successfully running this model in men's cricket, BCCI took a bit long to get the ball rolling in women's cricket. However, just after 3 seasons, the results were to be seen, as India did not flinch in crunch moments of the recent World Cup and many players also attribute this success to the WPL.
Some other such leagues include The Hundred (England), WCPL (WI), Women's Super Smash (NZ). Looking at the other boards, the BCB is also inaugurating the WBPL later this year, which is a big step for a growing team like Bangladesh.
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