Kamal Ghorui
The inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) saw a total of 159 sixes hit across the tournament. The number rose to 168 in the second and climbed further to 193 in the third edition last year. From defensive tactics to a bold, aggressive style of play, today players dominate with powerful drives and innovative strokes, resulting in higher scoring rates and a more entertaining spectacle.
The Indian team has fully embraced this shift, a transformation that culminated in their historic ODI World Cup triumph on home soil. The WPL has been a primary driver of this evolution. But has the World Cup victory fundamentally changed the league’s growth prospect? On-field action drives the product: Commentator and former India captain Anjum Chopra points out that the action on the ground is what drives the product. “Cricket on the park has been good from season one and is becoming better with every year. In season four, there is a lot more aggressive strokeplay and higher team totals, and more hits to the fence. And the packaging of the event has always been good, but cricket on the ground is the biggest driving force and that has improved,” she said. The World Cup victory has further supercharged interest in WPL. Anjum highlights how this success fuels the league’s growth. “The World Cup win is such a massive boost to the sport, that now when you are playing an international series or WPL, the engagement will be more, the connect will be more and the following will be more. From seasons 1 to 3, we saw growth in the WPL and season four, I feel, as we move along the engagement will be high also,” she noted. WPL expansion?: While the World Cup created ideal momentum, WPL 2026 remains concentrated in Navi Mumbai and Vadodara. Many believed the season offered the perfect opportunity for expansion into more cities to amplify fan reach and further embed the sport across India. Former left-hand batter Anjum acknowledges that shifting bases is ideal for a franchise format, but there must have been constraints. “Logistical decisions are taken keeping in mind various factors and I am not privy to that. But I do understand that travelling and shifting bases is very ideal in a franchise format and especially with a five-team tournament, but I am sure there must have been logistical challenges, and whatever decision has been taken, has been in the best interest of the sport,” she added. Beyond entertainment, the WPL’s core value lies in talent development. “The WPL is essential not only for international players but also for domestic players. Here you can identify those who have the potential and also see how those on the fringes of the Indian team fare,” Anjum emphasised. Looking ahead to the current season, she identifies Harleen Deol and Amanjot Kaur as two players who could provide the national side with vital depth. “Two players I feel should have a very good WPL are Harleen and Amanjot. I feel these two players have been around the Indian team for a few years now. Amanjot had a few injuries and she has been in and out, Harleen is experienced too and has matured as a player. If they both have a good season, this will augur well for the Indian team as well,” Anjum added.
