BCCI 'expecting' to launch inaugural Women’s IPL 'early next year'

Good news awaits the Indian cricket fans as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) “is expecting” to launch its inaugural Women’s Indian Premier League (IPL) “early next year”. The BCCI will also introduce an Under-15 tournament for girls this season, and said that this would create a pathway for girls to play at the highest level.

The women’s circuit in India has seen tremendous growth over the last five years or so, as the national team qualified for the finals of the 2017 World Cup, 2020 World Cup and 2022 Commonwealth Games and 2018 T20 World Cup semifinal. They also clinched the ongoing three-match ODI series in England with a game in hand. And a women’s IPL was much awaited among the players and fans alike.

More details will follow in the due course: Ganguly

“The BCCI is currently working on the much-awaited women's IPL. We are expecting to start the first season early next year. More details will follow in the due course," Ganguly wrote in his email, as mentioned in the Times of India. "We are glad to introduce a girls u-15 tournament from this season.”

“Women's cricket has seen phenomenal growth across the world and our national team has been performing well. This new tournament will create a pathway for our girls to play at the international level," the former Indian captain added. Meanwhile, India’s latest ODI series win over England is their first in English territory since 1999.

Meanwhile, Team India won the first ODI against England by seven wickets, chasing a target of 228 in 44.2 overs. Star Indian opener Smriti Mandhana was given the Player of the Match for her splendid innings of 91 off 99. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur also played a valuable hand, scoring an unbeaten 74 off 94. In the second ODI, which was held on September 21, Wednesday, in Canterbury, Kaur guided India to yet another famous victory with an unbeaten 143 off 111 balls. The third and final ODI will be played on Saturday at Lord’s.