The 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL) starts on Friday in Vadodara, and it’s going to be amazing! This year, the league has five teams and will last for four weeks. The defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), will play against the hosts, Gujarat Giants, in the opening match.
In the first season of WPL in 2023, matches were only held in Mumbai. Last year, it was split between Bengaluru and Delhi. But this time, matches will happen in a home-and-away format, so everyone can enjoy the games!
Many players like Asha Sobhana, Uma Chetry, Shreyanka Patil, and Saika Ishaque have been selected to play for India after their fantastic performances in the WPL. Meg Lanning, the captain of the Delhi Capitals, said she has loved watching the improvement of Indian players thanks to the chances they get in the WPL.
With the Women’s ODI World Cup taking place in India later this year, the WPL is also an opportunity for Indian players to show what they can do. Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain of Mumbai Indians, explained that the WPL has helped bridge the gap between domestic and international cricket. It even made her job as a captain easier because players are now more prepared for the international stage.
Deepti Sharma, the new captain of UP Warriorz, mentioned that playing with international stars boosts the confidence of younger players. She believes sharing the field with them helps everyone understand the game better.
The money players can earn has changed many lives. During the 2025 WPL auction, Gujarat Giants paid 19 million Indian rupees (about $218,800) for an uncapped player named Simran Shaikh. She was surprised to earn so much and said, “I thought I would get around 10-12 lakhs (roughly a million)” but never expected to be signed for crores (tens of millions).
RCB captain Smriti Mandhana highlighted that WPL offers financial security to domestic players. This support gives players the freedom to enjoy their game and play their best.
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