The Women’s Premier League - A Paradigm Shift in Indian ‘Women’s Cricket’

Abstract

The beginning of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), which started its first season in March 2023, is significant for Indian cricket. The WPL is dismantling the social construct of masculinity in cricket, deconstructing a cultural belief that cricket is a men’s game and opening up the game for women in India and beyond. The WPL mirrors the Indian Premier League (IPL), and its creation as a formal league marks a significant step towards increasing visibility, investment, and professionalism for female cricketers. This article charts the development of the WPL and its integration into women’s cricket, with particular reference to the Indian women’s team, specifically their powerful images during the 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup - one of the most defining moments in women’s cricket. Analysis will examine the economic hinterlands and sponsoring landscapes surrounding marketers for leagues of this nature. While observing the behaviors that may promote a commercially viable market with audience absorption, positive advances have been made till now. However, much remains to be done in addressing the infrastructure deficit, the gender disparity in funding, and the inadequate availability of development routes. Future research may want to adopt a longitudinal approach to tracing these pathways, as well as WPL sustainability models, over time and examining the longer-term benefits in support of grassroots development, considering contextual factors pertinent to women’s participation in cricket and the economic sustainability of women’s sport. We recommend that future research adopt a longitudinal approach to better understand the impact of grassroots development interventions on gender equity for women in cricket, the financial sustainability of women’s sport, and increasing levels of participation. It may also be helpful to evaluate the sociocultural barriers faced by female cricket players and identify the policy levers that can inform different approaches to creating an inclusive path for the growth of women’s cricket in India.