New Zealand captain Sophie Devine said that while the success of the WBBL has raised the standard of women’s cricket and increased the quality of the sport, a women’s IPL would be the next step in growing the sport globally.
The Women’s T20 Challenge has been played since 2018. (Courtesy of BCCI)
HIGHLIGHTS
- The BCCI currently hosts a three-team women’s T20 competition
- The men’s IPL is expanding to a 10-team competition next year
- The WBBL has been played since the 2015/16 season
A women’s Indian Premier League (IPL) would be “the next step” in expanding the global popularity of the sport, New Zealand captain Sophie Devine has said. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has hosted a Women’s T20 Challenge since 2018.
While the competition started out as a one-off match between two teams, it was been expanded to a three-team competition in 2018.
Devine cited the success of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia and its impact to make her point.
“The success of the WBBL in Australia has been enormous in raising the profile, and the standard of cricket as well has certainly improved,” Devine said on Monday.
“I’d love to see a woman’s IPL kick off. I think it’s certainly the next step in growing the game globally for the women side of things.
“So fingers crossed and in the next few years, there might be something on the cards,” the 32-year-old said.
Team mate Suzie Bates said franchise cricket had “drastically” changed women’s game.
“Any franchise opportunities supporting the international game is the key for the game growing and India is the next big step in my opinion after the success of the WBBL and The Hundred competition in England,” Bates said.
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