The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) finally approved the Women’s Indian Premier League (WIPL) on October 18. The decision to hold the Women’s IPL was made at the BCCI’s 91st Annual General Meeting, which was held on October 18 in Mumbai.

In an official press release, the BCCI announced, “The General Body approved to conduct the Women’s Indian Premier League.”

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The Women’s Indian Premier League (WIPL), a five-team tournament, is scheduled to begin on February 26, 2023, immediately following the conclusion of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. According to an ESPNCricinfo report, the BCCI’s proposed schedule includes 22 games and each squad will have 18 players, with a maximum of six foreign players. 

With four players from a full-member nation and one from an associate team, a playing XI can only have five foreign players on it at once. The WIPL will end before the men’s IPL, even though the BCCI hasn’t finalized its schedule. The men’s IPL, however, is expected to begin in March. It is also possible that the WIPL will clash with the inaugural season of the Women’s Pakistan Super League.

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Women’s cricket popularity in India

Women’s cricket has gained popularity in India since the women’s team advanced to the finals of the 2017 ODI World Cup, where they were defeated by England. Later, the BCCI launched the Women’s T20 Challenge in 2018, which was initially a one-match event. However, over time, it was expanded to three teams.

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During the eight-year period between 2014 and 2022, domestic women’s cricket has experienced tremendous growth. The percentages rose to 129% in the senior women’s category and to 92% in the under-19 category, according to a further breakdown. The Women’s Big Bash League, Caribbean Premier League, and The Hundred are T20 leagues that have helped boost interest in women’s cricket around the world. The WIPL will join them soon.