Women’s cricket in India is getting more attention year by year and the BCCI has started a marquee league for them, just like IPL for men’s cricket. After a successful inaugural season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), the next edition of the league (WPL 2024) is set to take place in 2024. The fans enjoyed every moment of the last edition with so many nail-biting finishes. Today, we will talk about all the things about WPL 2024 and what you need to know about it.
Home-Away Format for WPL 2024
WPL 2024 will see a home-and-away format. The BCCI decided to have a home-and-away format considering the importance of building a fan base. The treasurer of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Arun Dhumal told PTI – “From a fan engagement point of view it is very important that we go for home and away format.”
Good decision by the BCCI to have a home-and-away format
The decision taken by the BCCI to have a home-and-away format in WPL 2024 is looking good. As we discussed earlier, it is very good to build a fan base. The home team’s franchise will get more support and their fan base will also increase.
For example, if Mumbai Indians’ played their WPL 2024 games in Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, there will be massive support for them.
Difficult for Tier-2 cities to have WPL 2024 games
With this home-and-away format, it will be very difficult for Tier-2 cities like Nagpur, Indore, etc to host WPL 2024 games. Because that state-based franchises not participating in the WPL, they will not get the games to host.
No more than 5 teams for the next three WPL seasons
Arun Dhumal also said that they will hope to increase the number of teams in the tournament. But there will be only 5 teams for the next three WPL seasons. Dhumal said – “We are hoping for an increase in the number of teams but for the coming three seasons will remain five.”
The BCCI will also look at the time slot available for the WPL 2024, considering India’s international commitment.
“We are surely looking at home and away format, we will see which time slot is available considering India’s international commitment and take a call.” – Dhumal added.
Bigger window for WPL 2024
The BCCI is looking to have a bigger window for the WPL 2024. February would most likely be the window for the tournament. The source said that postponing the WPL till later in the year, around Diwali, is also being discussed, but nothing has been decided.
The first season of the competition took place from March 4 to 26. Mumbai Indians Womens won that inaugural tournament by beating Delhi Capitals Womens in the final by 7 wickets. Let’s see some of the stats of the previous season.
Leading run scorer in WPL 2023
Meg Lanning becomes the leading run-scorer after she scored 345 runs in 9 games with an average of 49.29 and a strike rate of 139.11. Nat Sciver Brunt was the 2nd highest run scorer with 332 runs in 10 games. She also becomes the player of the match in the final for her 60 runs off 55 balls.
Highest wicket-taker in WPL 2023
Hayley Matthews took 16 wickets in 10 games with an average of 12.62. She becomes the highest wicket-taker in the tournament. The off-spinner from West Indies also was quite economical and only gave 202 runs in 204 balls. She becomes the player of the tournament also for her performance in the tournament.
Sophie Ecclestone also took 16 wickets and even played one game less than Hayley. But she averages more than Hayley. That’s why she was at No. 2 in the highest wicket-takers list.
Conclusion
So this has been now decided that the next edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL 2024) will be played in a home and away format. This means that there will be more than one venue where WPL 2024 will be held. Last time in WPL 2023, the tournament was held in Mumbai across two venues only.
We all are excited to see the next edition of the Women’s Premier League. It is a great tournament for women’s cricketers in India as women’s cricket will get so much benefit from this. The cricketers will get the opportunity to showcase their talent on this platform. And it will also benefit the women’s cricketers financially. Also, the mixture of foreign players makes this tournament more interesting.
What do you think? Who will win the WPL 2024? Who will score more runs and who will take the most wickets? Will we see a new champion? Or will Mumbai Indians Womens defend the title in 2024? So many things to answer. Fill in the comment box with your predictions below.
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