The highly anticipated second edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL 2024) is set to kick off on February 23rd, promising an exhilarating display of cricketing prowess and fierce competition. Following the success of its inaugural season, the WPL returns with a thrilling opening match between the Mumbai Indians, champions of the first season, and the runner-ups, Delhi Capitals. The excitement unfolds in Bengaluru, one of the chosen venues for the tournament.
With 22 games on the agenda, including knockout stages, the tournament will witness intense battles between five formidable teams. Matches will be held across two prestigious venues, the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru and the renowned Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The format follows a double round-robin structure, ensuring each team faces off against one another twice in the league stage.
In a departure from the previous season, there will be no double headers this time around. All matches are scheduled to commence at 7:30 PM IST, back-to-back, with only a single gap provided before the knockout stages and another before the grand final. This streamlined scheduling aims to optimize viewer engagement and provide an uninterrupted viewing experience for cricket enthusiasts.
Here is complete schedule for WPL 2024
| Match No. | Date | Matchup | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | February 23 | Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals | 19:30:00 | M Chinnaswamy Stadium |
| 2 | February 24 | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs UP Warriorz | 19:30:00 | M Chinnaswamy Stadium |
| 3 | February 25 | Gujarat Giants vs Mumbai Indians | 19:30:00 | M Chinnaswamy Stadium |
| 4 | February 26 | UP Warriorz vs Delhi Capitals | 19:30:00 | M Chinnaswamy Stadium |
| 5 | February 27 | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Gujarat Giants | 19:30:00 | M Chinnaswamy Stadium |
| 6 | February 28 | Mumbai Indians vs UP Warriorz | 19:30:00 | M Chinnaswamy Stadium |
| 7 | February 29 | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Delhi Capitals | 19:30:00 | M Chinnaswamy Stadium |
| 8 | March 1 | UP Warriorz vs Gujarat Giants | 19:30:00 | M Chinnaswamy Stadium |
| 9 | March 2 | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Mumbai Indians | 19:30:00 | M Chinnaswamy Stadium |
| 10 | March 3 | Gujarat Giants vs Delhi Capitals | 19:30:00 | M Chinnaswamy Stadium |
| 11 | March 4 | UP Warriorz vs Royal Challengers Bangalore | 19:30:00 | M Chinnaswamy Stadium |
| 12 | March 5 | Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians | 19:30:00 | Arun Jaitley Stadium |
| 13 | March 6 | Gujarat Giants vs Royal Challengers Bangalore | 19:30:00 | Arun Jaitley Stadium |
| 14 | March 7 | UP Warriorz vs Mumbai Indians | 19:30:00 | Arun Jaitley Stadium |
| 15 | March 8 | Delhi Capitals vs UP Warriorz | 19:30:00 | Arun Jaitley Stadium |
| 16 | March 9 | Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Giants | 19:30:00 | Arun Jaitley Stadium |
| 17 | March 10 | Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore | 19:30:00 | Arun Jaitley Stadium |
| 18 | March 11 | Gujarat Giants vs UP Warriorz | 19:30:00 | Arun Jaitley Stadium |
| 19 | March 12 | Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore | 19:30:00 | Arun Jaitley Stadium |
| 20 | March 13 | Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Giants | 19:30:00 | Arun Jaitley Stadium |
| 21 | March 15 | Eliminator | 19:30:00 | Arun Jaitley Stadium |
| 22 | March 17 | Final | 19:30:00 | Arun Jaitley Stadium |
An exciting addition to this season’s tournament is the implementation of the Decision Review System (DRS), marking a significant milestone for franchise cricket leagues. Notably, players will have the opportunity to review wides and no-balls using DRS, enhancing the overall fairness and accuracy of match decisions.
The WPL 2024 has also witnessed remarkable developments in player signings and auctions. Rising talent Kashvee Gautam emerged as the highest-paid uncapped player, commanding an impressive INR 2 crore price tag. Although ruled out due to injury, Gautam was initially picked by the Gujarat Giants, demonstrating the team’s confidence in her abilities.
In a bid to fill the void left by injured players, RCB’s Kanika Ahuja and others, replacements Sayali Satghare and Shradda Pokharkar have been drafted into their respective teams. Additionally, Australian all-rounder Annabel Sutherland made headlines by fetching the same price as Gautam, becoming the most expensive overseas player in the league. Sutherland was successfully auctioned by the Delhi Capitals, further bolstering the team’s formidable lineup.
Furthermore, the WPL 2024 boasts an inclusive approach by including Scotland’s medium-pace all-rounder Kathryn Bryce as the sole Associate player in the tournament. Signed by the Gujarat Giants at a base price of INR 10 lakh, Bryce’s inclusion underscores the league’s commitment to diversity and talent recognition on a global scale.
Here are complete squads for WPL 2024
| Team Name | Players |
|---|---|
| UP Warriorz | Alyssa Healy, Anjali Sarvani, Deepti Sharma, Grace Harris, Kiran Navgire, Chamari Athapaththu, Laxmi Yadav, Parshavi Chopra, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Soppadhandi Yashasri, Shweta Sehrawat, Sophie Ecclestone, Tahlia McGrath, Danni Wyatt, Vrinda Dinesh, Poonam Khemnar, Saima Thakor, Gouher Sultana |
| Gujarat Giants | Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Dayalan Hemalatha, Harleen Deol, Laura Wolvaardt, Shabnam Shakil, Sneh Rana, Tanuja Kanwar, Phoebe Litchfield, Meghna Singh, Trisha Poojitha, Kashvee Gautam, Priya Mishra, Lauren Cheatle, Kathryn Bryce, Mannat Kashyap, Veda Krishnamurthy, Tarannum Pathan |
| Mumbai Indians | Amanjot Kaur, Amelia Kerr, Chloe Tryon, Harmanpreet Kaur, Hayley Matthews, Humaira Kazi, Issy Wong, Jintimani Kalita, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Pooja Vastrakar, Priyanka Bala, Saika Ishaque, Yastika Bhatia, Shabnim Ismail, S Sajana, Amandeep Kaur, Fatima Jaffer, Keerthana Balakrishnan |
| Delhi Capitals | Alice Capsey, Arundhati Reddy, Jemimah Rodrigues, Jess Jonassen, Laura Harris, Marizanne Kapp, Meg Lanning, Minnu Mani, Poonam Yadav, Radha Yadav, Shafali Verma, Shikha Pandey, Sneha Deepthi, Taniya Bhatia, Titas Sadhu, Annabel Sutherland*, Aparna Mondal, Ashwani Kumari |
| Royal Challengers Bangalore | Asha Shobana, Disha Kasat, Ellyse Perry, Nadine de Klerk, Indrani Roy, Kanika Ahuja, Renuka Singh, Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil, Smriti Mandhana, Sophie Devine, Georgia Wareham, Kate Cross, Ekta Bisht, Shubha Satheesh, S Meghana, Simran Bahadur, Sophie Molineux |
As the excitement builds and anticipation reaches fever pitch, cricket fans around the world eagerly await the crowning moment of the tournament. The grand final is scheduled to take place on March 17th in Delhi, promising a thrilling conclusion to what is set to be an unforgettable journey of cricketing excellence and sporting spirit in the Women’s Premier League 2024.
