IPL Franchise Owners Eye Expansion Into WPL as Women’s Cricket Soars

The Growing Appeal of the Women’s Premier League

Women’s cricket in India has experienced a meteoric rise over the past few years. Since the inaugural season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in 2023, the landscape of the sport has shifted dramatically. This growth was further underscored by India’s triumphant 2025 World Cup campaign on home soil—a watershed moment that captured the national imagination and brought unprecedented viewership to the women’s game.

(Image Credits: BCCI)

The surge of talent emerging from the domestic circuit suggests that the WPL is poised for evolution. While the league currently operates as a five-team tournament, stakeholders across the cricketing fraternity believe expansion is inevitable. Even without formal announcements from the board, the appetite for investment is palpable, particularly among those already entrenched in the Indian Premier League (IPL) ecosystem.

Mohit Burman Signals Interest in WPL Expansion

Indian businessman Mohit Burman, who holds a 48 percent stake in the Punjab Kings, recently became the latest high-profile figure to express an interest in buying a WPL franchise. Burman’s comments underscore a growing trend where IPL owners view the women’s game not just as a philanthropic endeavor, but as a robust business opportunity with a bright future.

“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,” Burman stated in a recent interview. Regarding the timing of such investments, he noted that every group assesses strategic priorities differently, but emphasized, “Personally, I think the future of the women’s game is extremely bright. We would love to own a women’s IPL team.”

Current Status of WPL Expansion

The WPL is currently a five-team league, with several owners already sharing ties with IPL franchises. Teams like the Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have asserted dominance with two titles each, while the Delhi Capitals have displayed remarkable consistency by reaching every final since the league’s inception. Despite this success, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is maintaining a cautious approach.

Arun Dhumal, the IPL chairman, has clarified that there are no immediate plans to expand the number of teams. “To further strengthen this tournament for the time being, we want to consolidate before we take a call on further addition of any team,” Dhumal explained. The board’s current priority remains the stabilization of the existing structure before inviting new stakeholders into the fold.

WPL: A Catalyst for Success

The impact of the WPL on Indian women’s cricket cannot be overstated. For years, the Indian women’s team has been a global powerhouse, consistently reaching the knockouts of ICC events. However, the introduction of a high-intensity domestic league has provided the final piece of the puzzle. By mirroring the successful models of Australia’s WBBL, England’s The Hundred, and other international leagues, the WPL has effectively bridged the gap between raw talent and elite performance.

The rapid integration of younger players into high-pressure environments has been clearly visible in the national team’s recent performances. Indian players no longer flinch in crunch moments, a trait often attributed to the exposure provided by playing alongside and against top international talent in the WPL. As other nations, such as Bangladesh with their upcoming WBPL, follow suit, the global ecosystem for women’s cricket continues to harden and improve.

Ultimately, while the BCCI focuses on consolidation, the expressed interest from major franchise owners confirms that the WPL has successfully cemented its status as a premier sporting asset. The question for the future is not if the league will grow, but when.