The Women’s Premier League (WPL) has extended its deadline for declaring retentions ahead of its third season, according to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
At first, the franchises were given until Tuesday, October 15th, to submit the list of players they wanted to keep. On Tuesday, though, the BCCI sent a letter to the teams informing them of the deadline extension. November 7 has been moved as the new deadline for submitting the list.
For those who are unaware, each of the five participating teams is allowed to have a squad of 18 players, including six players from abroad. Additionally, similar to the Indian Premier League (IPL), the teams are allowed to release players on an annual basis. Although the date has not yet been announced, the BCCI is anticipated to hold a mini-auction based on the retentions.
The third season’s auction purse has been raised to INR 15 crores, which is significant. Prior to the first season in 2023, the auction purse was INR 12 crores. Last season, it was increased to INR 13.5 crores.
There may be a huge auction following the tournament’s 2025 edition, and a new team may be added to improve the competitiveness. Similar to the IPL, the WPL will also require the BCCI to develop a retention policy. There are currently just five teams: the Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and UP Warriorz.
BCCI is probably going to host the WPL 2025 in the February–March window once more.
Although the BCCI has not yet disclosed the timing or location of the upcoming season, it is anticipated to take place during the same February–March window as the prior two seasons. Some teams anticipate a similar opportunity because the senior women’s domestic matches conclude in mid-January, according to.
The entire first season of the lucrative league was held in Mumbai. But for the second edition, the BCCI decided to organise it in Delhi and Bengaluru. The third edition may possibly take place in two cities, if stories are to be believed.
The competition was won earlier this year by Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who defeated the Delhi Capitals in the final at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. They are the reigning champions. The Mumbai Indians, the winners of the first season, lost this year in the Eliminator.
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