The Women's Premier League 2026 has been a commercial and sporting juggernaut, shattering records across every metric. Cumulative viewership for the season crossed 350 million — more than double the inaugural 2023 season — while stadium attendance averaged 18,000 per match across venues in Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Lucknow.
Growing Commercial Power
The league's title sponsorship deal, renewed at ₹400 crore for three years, represents a five-fold increase from the first season. Individual franchises report that merchandise sales have tripled, with the Mumbai Indians women's jersey becoming the best-selling women's sports jersey in Indian history.
Player salaries have risen correspondingly. Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry commands ₹3.2 crore this season, while India captain Harmanpreet Kaur's ₹2.8 crore deal includes equity in her franchise — a first for women's cricket.
Impact on the Sport
- Five countries have announced new women's franchise leagues inspired by the WPL
- BCCI's women's cricket budget increased 300% since WPL launch
- Grassroots participation in women's cricket up 45% nationwide
"The WPL has done for women's cricket what the IPL did for men's — it has made it aspirational, visible, and commercially viable," said ICC Chair Greg Barclay.
The BCCI is considering expanding the WPL from five to eight teams for the 2027 season. Jaipur, Hyderabad, and Kolkata are the frontrunners for the new franchises, with bidding expected to open later this year.
