Will the WPL get more teams starting next year? BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia shares the latest update

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia (ANI Photo) NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering increasing the number of teams in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) from next year to provide more opportunities for women cricketers.BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the board will discuss the extension after many players missed out on selection in the WPL 2027 auction held in Kochi.The league started in 2023 with five teams, and the 2027 season is scheduled to run from January 14 to February 7.

BCCI plans to expand WPL

Saikia pointed out that the number of players available is much higher than the options offered by the five existing teams.“There are about 150 girls players who are in contention here and we barely had to take 27 but still so many players were left out. So we can very easily see that five teams are really less compared to the number of girl cricketers in the supply chain,” Saikia said, according to IANS.“From next year we will definitely have to do some brainstorming to increase the number of squads, as well as other areas where we can improve. Not only the players, but many other areas that we are involved in, directly from the coaches, selectors etc., and different stakeholders are involved here.”Adding a team or two and increasing player budgets could help more domestic players get a chance to compete at the highest level.“So the whole ecosystem is having a positive impact on WPL. It’s a great start and it’s an amazing journey that’s happening and I hope WPL will grow by leaps and bounds in the coming years,” added Saikia.

WPL’s role in women’s cricket

Saikia also praised Delhi Capitals for signing 15-year-old all-rounder Uma Kashvi for Rs 10 crore, calling it a positive move for young talent.“I am very happy that a young girl at the age of 15 has got an opportunity to play in the WPL. This is an achievement. We want to bring maximum women cricketers into the game and be a part of this success story in Indian women’s cricket.”He also credited the WPL for helping India become a stronger force in women’s cricket and highlighted the national team’s victory in the ODI World Cup last year.“We are the current world champions and that shows the expansion that this WPL has brought across the country in terms of women’s cricket. You see the WPL is one of the big leagues in the world of franchise cricket after the IPL.”Saikia said the league played an important role in India’s progress and expressed hope that it would continue to grow in the coming years.