Following a successful auction for the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah announced that the T20 extravaganza is set to commence in the second or third week of February 2024. Unlike the first edition, which took place solely in Mumbai, the upcoming tournament will be hosted in a single state in India, optimizing logistical arrangements.
Shah emphasized the importance of logistics and hinted at the possibility of exploring multiple cities for future editions after discussions with franchises. Potential locations include Bangalore (Karnataka), Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat, with cities like Ahmedabad, Rajkot, and eventually Baroda, which could develop its own stadium.
The recent auction for the second edition witnessed five franchises completing their squads, with 30 players sold. Uncapped Indian bowler Kashvee Gautam and Annabel Sutherland emerged as the joint-most expensive players, fetching INR 2 crore each for Gujarat Giants and Delhi Capitals, respectively.
Another uncapped Indian player, Vrinda Dinesh, secured a substantial deal worth INR 1.30 crore with UP Warriorz. Mumbai Indians acquired veteran South African bowler Shabnim Ismail for 1.20 crore, while Phoebe Litchfield was purchased by Gujarat Giants for INR 1 crore. The anticipation for the upcoming clash of favorite teams in the second edition of WPL is soaring among fans.
