Tata Group bags WPL title rights

Tata Group, the Indian business conglomerate which holds the title rights for Indian Premier League, has also bagged the title rights of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), the inaugural edition of which goes underway from March 4. 

The deal between the BCCI and Tata Sons, the holding company of the conglomerate, is understood to have been signed for a five-year period, with the value of the sponsorship yet to be confirmed. The BCCI had invited "reputed entities" for the right to "own and operate" teams in January this year, while the board had floated tenders for media rights in December last year, which Viacom 18 won for a five-year period (2023-27) for INR 951 crore. 

The apex Indian board further earned approx. INR 4670 crore through the sale of the franchises, as the owners of three  IPL teams - Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore - as well as the Adani Group and Capri Global clinched the bids to own the teams in the five-team tournament.

Gujarat Giants, the Ahmedabad-based franchise, was sold for the highest price at INR 1289 crore, followed by Mumbai Indians (INR 912.99 crore), Royal Challengers Bangalore (INR 901 crore), Delhi Capitals (INR 810 crore) and Lucknow Warriorz (INR 757 crore).

The inaugural edition of the 22-match league will be played across two venues: the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai and Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, with the former set to host the tournament opener on March 4, to be played between Gujarat Giants and Mumbai Indians. The final will be played at the Brabourne Stadium upon the conclusion of the 20 league fixtures and the Eliminator.

Each team will face the other four twice, with the table topper advancing straightaway to the final, whereas the teams finishing second and third will be up in a shoot out to decide the second finalist. 

Incidentally, the tournament will kick off only five days after the end of Women's T20 World Cup, which will conclude in Cape Town in South Africa on February 26. Given that, the BCCI understandably kept the games split across just two venues to reduce the logistical challenges and travelling for players.