WPL at 4: Rocking, Rolling, and fully in the limelight as the upcoming WPL season is not short of publicity or attention.
The WPL is four, standing on its own feet, rocking and rolling.
One word that followed viewers around for a month prior to the first WPL in 2023 was pehchaan, or acknowledgement. Before and after games, as well as in between overs, the advertisement aired on television. The idea was that the league needed to present itself to the public before establishing its position in the ecosystem.
That yearning has vanished after three years.
When the WPL resumes in 2026, the world has changed significantly due to the fallout from India’s victory in the ODI World Cup. There’s a feeling that the WPL is starting to reap the benefits of the expansion it promised at inception in advance of the fourth season.
For instance, consider games that require tickets. Even if their earnings are still far lower than those of the IPL, the change feels noteworthy. Attendance at WPL games, which was free during the first season, is now charged. It’s a clear indication that the league has changed, which is why it seems like the BCCI may have wasted a chance by not switching to a home-and-away format this year.
Although control and logistical ease are provided by the current caravan model, it will soon be difficult to overlook the growing local ties the WPL has started to foster. It is hard to envision the Mumbai Indians (MI) without Harmanpreet Kaur or the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) without Smriti Mandhana.
The league has provided a significant platform for up-and-coming talent in addition to the A-listers. After ten years of domestic cricket struggle, S Sajana gained importance with her last-ball six in the inaugural game of the WPL 2024. After 15 years at three different domestic teams, Asha Sobhana didn’t receive the recognition she did after taking five wickets for RCB in their first match in 2024.
The WPL was created to create moments like these, where “talent meets opportunity”—the IPL’s well-known tagline—and to provide up-and-coming talent with a platform so they wouldn’t have to labour in obscurity.
The WPL has been shaped by this concept since its founding. Although it could have been better to combine it with the IPL, the television and digital rights, as well as title sponsorship, were auctioned separately. Furthermore, the commercial component is just one of several spin-offs from a talent pool that was previously thought to be shallow.
In comparison to earlier iterations, the build-up to WPL 2026 may seem less intense. However, the lack of a spectacular opening ceremony or memorable theme song is unlikely to be a problem, unlike in the past when the league needed its pehchaan. On its own, the radiance of a World Cup victory has increased exposure dramatically.
The first three seasons helped the WPL find a place in India’s cricket ecosystem. The next phase is about reshaping the women’s game and India’s place in it.