Chairman Jayesh George:<\/b> Women\u2019s Premier League (WPL) chairman Jayesh George said the recently-concluded auction, which drew about 150 players competing for just 27 slots, showed how far women\u2019s cricket has come, adding that the league now attracts talent from associate nations as well.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI was excited to be a part of this because being the chairperson of this WPL and having it in my hometown adds value, right? The auction went on very well, and in my opening speech also, I said that we have only 27 players to be auctioned and 150 players in that lot.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cSo it adds value to women's cricket. I think nowadays more and more women players are coming into the field, so that\u2019s very exciting,\u201d George said in a video posted by the WPL on its social media accounts on Friday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He pointed to the number of teenagers like Uma Kashvi and Samaira Raghav in the auction list getting picked by teams like Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Giants respectively. \u201cI think the women players are still growing and we could see from the list also. There are so many 15-year-olds, 16-year-olds, 17-year-old kids, one or two had been picked up from Mumbai Indians and it adds value playing with or maybe being a part of a team which has so many great players in their side.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
George said the presence of India\u2019s biggest names in the league, including Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, would draw more girls to the sport. \u201cLike they have Harman and Smriti all there, that adds value, and a lot of youngsters watching this will be prompted to play cricket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI think we have some older players who got into the auction, I think we have Asha Sobhana; she\u2019s from my state, and UP Warriors has taken her place, but it adds value,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
George further said the number of players who went unsold reflected the depth of the pool rather than any shortfall. \u201cAround 150 players were there and so many are left out, so that shows the strength of the tournament.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe could see players from Scotland have been picked up. Then some Sri Lankans, and so many, I think even from the UAE, somebody had been in the list; it adds value that, global-wise, the Women\u2019s Premier League is growing.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The fifth season of the WPL will happen from January 14 to February 7, 2027, with the venues yet to be known. George also credited India\u2019s ODI World Cup triumph and the aggressive batting of players like Shafali Verma for bringing women\u2019s cricket closer to the men\u2019s game in public appeal.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI think after our World Cup victory and the way the women cricketers are playing, just like men\u2019s cricket, the way they hit sixes like Shafali and all those, it adds value just like men\u2019s cricket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The fifth season of the WPL will happen from January 14 to February 7, 2027, with the venues yet to be known. George also credited India\u2019s ODI World Cup triumph and the aggressive batting of players like Shafali Verma for bringing women\u2019s cricket closer to the men\u2019s game in public appeal.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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