it’s finally here, women’s premier league ,wpl) – BCCI’s latest blue-eyed kid, and another potential money-spinner.
The inaugural edition of the WPL will see a leap of faith in the women’s game with a blockbuster clash between Ambani-owned Mumbai Indians and Adani-owned Gujarat Giants at the DY Patil Stadium on Saturday. For almost a month, leading up to the finale on March 26, the crème da la crème of women’s cricket will descend on the shores of Mumbai, representing five franchises – MI, Gujarat Giants, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Capitals and UP Warriors. ,
“I think it is the biggest day for all of us. It is one of the biggest leagues and we will get a lot of experience and exposure from it. We will get to see a lot of young girls from this tournament and that is why we wanted it Let the competition begin,” MI skipper Harmanpreet Kaur said on Friday.
Defining the importance of WPL for the women’s game in India, Harmanpreet said: “We all were looking for the opportunity for the last several years. Now that this stage has come, it will definitely take women’s cricket to the next level. Going forward, I think WPL will help build a good team for Indian cricket.”
Top opener Beth Mooney, who arrived here after scoring an unbeaten 74 in the final against South Africa in Cape Town to lead Gujarat Giants to yet another T20 World Cup title win for the mighty Aussies, is excited to deliver. Best shot in WPL.
“It’s been a bit of a whirlwind. I’ve only been here 36 hours. Everyone is so excited to be going. I’m so thrilled and excited to be here and be a part of the first game.”
“We have been crying out for a tournament like this in women’s cricket for a long time. So, to sit here at night for the first game, I couldn’t have been more prepared,” said Mooney, who scored 82 not out and 89 not out in front of a packed crowd at the DY Patil Stadium. Beginning in the two matches of the India-Australia T20I series in December last year.
On a Saturday night, the WPL needs the kind of spectacular on-field launch that the IPL got in the first game of the cash-rich league on April 18, 2008.