Cricket fans across the globe and more so the cricketers themselves have long awaited for the Women's Indian T20 League. India cricket stars and also overseas players have over time have expressed their opinion on holding a bigger tournament as compared to the present three-team annual competition held as Women's T20 Challenge.
But the Indian Cricket Board president Sourav Ganguly had admitted earlier this year that a Women's Indian T20 League will be held in 2023, the board has now reportedly put a window in place for the much-awaited competition in March 2023. However, star India batter Smriti Mandhana gave an epic response after a journalist posed a 'Women's Indian T20 League coming next year' question.
It was after the Women's Hundred match between Oval Invincibles and Southern Brave at the Kennington Oval. Mandhana had scored a fiery 25-ball 46 in Southern Brave Women's 12-run win.
After the game, a journalist asked, “With the Women's IPL coming next year, can we expect the same kind of enthusiasm back at home as well?”
Mandhana's reaction was simply brilliant as soon as the reporter mentioned the Women's Indian T20 League before she replied to the question by saying, “I think whenever we play there is lot of enthusiasm back home irrespective of the format. Indian fans love cricket and they turn up to support us regardless of one-day or T20. So Women's IPL will be great.”
The clamour to have a full-fledged IPL for women cricketers getting louder by the day, Ganguly and BCCI secretary Jay Shah have hinted at a Women's Indian T20 League in 2023.
"We are at the level of formulation to have a full-fledged WIPL. It is certainly going to happen," Ganguly had said. "I strongly believe that next year i.e. 2023 will be a very good time to start a full-fledged women's IPL which will be as big and grand a success as men's IPL."
Later in May, Jay Shah told PTI, "I am thrilled at the kind of response we have got from stakeholders. Multiple existing IPL teams have enquired and expressed serious interest in owning WIPL franchises."
The Women's Indian T20 League, when it happens, will be a great spectacle to watch as the best in the Women's game will be on show.
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