The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 is set to commence today, February 14, with an exciting opening match between defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru and the Gujarat Giants at Vadodara’s Kotambi Stadium. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM IST.
This third edition of the WPL introduces a home-and-away format, expanding the tournament’s reach across four cities: Bengaluru, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Vadodara. Each of the five participating teams—Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Giants, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, and UP Warriorz—will play matches at their respective home venues, enhancing local fan engagement.
The WPL has been instrumental in elevating women’s cricket in India, providing a platform for domestic talent to shine alongside international stars. Players like Asha Sobhana and Saika Ishaque have leveraged their WPL performances to secure national team call-ups, underscoring the league’s role in bridging the gap between domestic and international cricket.
With India set to host the women’s ODI World Cup later this year, the WPL serves as a crucial opportunity for players to audition for World Cup slots. Veteran players and skippers, including Meg Lanning and Harmanpreet Kaur, have highlighted the league’s significance in preparing for international competitions.
In a notable leadership change, Deepti Sharma has been appointed as the new captain of the UP Warriorz, replacing the injured Australian Alyssa Healy. Deepti aims to lead boldly, emulating Healy’s risk-taking mindset, and prefers batting in the top order to leverage her ability to read and respond to the game better.
The WPL 2025 will feature a total of 22 matches, culminating in the final on March 15. The tournament’s format involves each team playing every other team twice in a double round-robin format. The top three teams will qualify for the playoffs, with the highest-ranked team advancing directly to the final, while the second and third-placed teams will compete in an eliminator to determine the other finalist.
Fans can catch the live action of the opening ceremony and matches on Jio Cinema and the Sports18 Network. All WPL matches are scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM IST, with no double-headers in this edition.
As the WPL 2025 kicks off, it promises to deliver thrilling cricketing action, showcase emerging talents, and further solidify the foundation of women’s cricket in India.
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