WPL will see a home-away format from 2024: Dhumal

Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Arun Dhumal has confirmed that the five Women’s Premier League (WPL) teams would play home and away fixtures from 2024. While there was a growing rumour that the tournament could be expanded from a five-team event to more, Dhumal has revealed that the teams will remain five for the next three years. 

"Well begun is half done. It has been a great beginning for WPL and going forward it is going to be much better than what we have seen so far. We have started with five teams but going forward there is scope for additional team given the pool of the players that is going to come in the years to follow,” Arun Dhumal told PTI. 

"We are hoping increase in the number of teams but for the coming three seasons will remain five. We are surely looking at home and away format, we will see which time slot is available considering India's international commitment and take a call,” he added.

In the first edition of the WPL, teams only played at two venues – DY Patil Stadium and Brabourne – but the second edition will see teams play at more venues, and travel across the country.

"It has been a phenomenal ride so far and quite a challenging one given the time slot we had to start the WPL. We are satisfied with the way things have progressed, we did not have much of window as the World Cup was there and the girls had just about a week to comeback and start,” he added.

"This is a global event. It is not India centric. We have given one slot to associate countries which will help the game grow globally. And their players did well too."

Even though the WPL did well in terms of finance, their main motive through the tournament was to expand the talent pool in the country, and that according to Dhumal, was an instant success.

"Our national team has done very well over the last couple of years. U-19 girls won the World Cup. Given how the WPL was received, we are very hopeful that we will have a bigger pool of players and their fitness and fielding standard will improve immensely going forward."