Women's cricket has gained momentum from the past few years. The efforts of the previous generation of women cricketers like Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami, Shanta Rangaswamy, Diana Edluji and many others are yielding positive outcomes now. The result of all these factors is the increased awareness of the women's game, and the well deserved respect to the women players who play the game. And a stepping stone to the success and flourishment of women's cricket was Women's Premier League 2023.

Inspired from Women's Bigh Bash League and Women's English Premier League ,the BCCI launched the Women's Premier league. With the aim of promoting the game, and giving the Indian youngsters an opportunity and exposure, the much welcomed platform was initiated. On similar lines with the cash rich Indian Premier League, a draft was made and the expectations from the league were high amongst the global cricket fans who took interest in the women's game. And living up to the expectations of the thought of initiating the league, the WPL garnered attention and was showered with love.

The inaugural season success of the league prompted the richest board in the world to make it a new normal, and hence the WPL enters in this second season, starting from tomorrow on 23rd February 2024. The massive development in the infrastructure for women's cricket was major advantage of the first season of WPL. Although the Women's T20 challenge was prevalent since the past few years, it was a rather one body governed league, with all the teams led by BCCI itself. However, the WPL meant the involvement of franchises and the auction, to show the world the real worth of the skill sets which Women in Blue, as well as other women players deserved.

Furthermore, the usually uninterested crowd found a lot of new names, who they never knew about. The likes of Shreyanka Patil, Saika Ishaque, Kanika Ahuja, Parshavi Chopra were no more a name restricted to their domestic circuit. These youngsters showcased their skills, outclassing some big names in the international circuit, which they played with or against in the league. A much optimistic response which followed was the global franchises taking interest in Indian players, which eventually allowed Shreyanka Patil to be the first ever Indian to play in Women's Caribbean Premier League. It also reiterated the name of Indian warriors like Shikha Pandey (an Indian Air Force officer) and Radha Yadav who displayed their nerves of steel in the finals of WPL.

Apart from just promoting the local talent, the league also helped the established overseas players to gain a significant fanbase in a country that has a billion cricket crazy fans. A result of which, outstanding performances like Sophie Devine's 99, Hayley Matthews' contention for orange as well as purple cap, Issy Wong's hattrick in the semi-final were much celebrated by Indians just like they celebrate Smriti or Harmanpreet's century. It was only because of the Women's Premier League that the Indian stars and youngsters got a chance to be in a team led by the most successful skipper in women's cricket in the form of Meg Lanning.

All these impacted the way the game was ever looked, and it changed the perspective of many fans which now eagerly wait for Indian Women's team match, equally like they wait for Indian Men's team encounter. The league impacted the players largely, but even more importantly it did the job of penetrating the minds of young girls, who now look to take up the sport as a career, rather than just watching it on television. And there exactly lies the success of the Women's Premier League. And realising the importance of the same, the Board presided by Jay Shah, decided to continue the league which was started by Prince of Kolkata Sourav Ganguly.

The second season of the WPL is a testament to the success of women's cricket, and it will do the job of further increasing the awareness of women's cricket in the country. Moreover, the likes of Meg Lanning playing for the first time post her retirement, will eventually led to the world watch the league with even more close attention. Also, the inclusion of many new names in the side like Fatima Jaffer, Shraddha Pokharkar and many others would result in them getting well deserved recognition and exposure to an elevated level of cricket. In the times where Indian Women's cricket team are always ending up as runner-ups, the significant shift in mindset happening after interacting with overseas legends, will eventually help our team inch closer to their first ever ICC title going ahead. Hopefully, the same happens. We congratulate the BCCI for the 2nd season of the league, and wish the players, teams a franchise a good luck for a great 2 weeks of cricket.

Schedule of WPL :- WPL 2024 fixtures