WPL scores Rs 1,250 crore in valuation for debut season, IPL 2023 sees 6% uptick in value

"A particularly striking indicator of the WPL’s success is the cumulative sale proceeds of franchises, amounting to a staggering Rs 4,670 crore. This substantial investment by team owners signals their confidence in the league’s future trajectory. They foresee the WPL not only thriving but also offering significant financial returns in the coming years," the report said.

While it may take time for franchises to become profitable, the WPL presents an untapped advertising opportunity, unlike the relatively saturated market for the IPL and men’s cricket, noted Piyush Patnaik, Partner, D & P Advisory.

The league is also making strides towards achieving gender pay parity and providing a level playing field for women in cricket, said Santosh N, Managing Partner of D & P Advisory.

Also read: WPL franchise will starting inching towards break-even in the next cycle, says Delhi Capitals CEO

"WPL promotes the values of inclusivity and diversity in the cricketing ecosystem. The team’s branding efforts, fan engagement strategies, have all contributed to its success and popularity. Moreover, the WPL serves as a platform for infrastructure development and grassroots-level talent, bridging the gap between domestic and international cricket and is slated to reach greater heights in the next two or three years,” he added.

Prior to the WPL, only Indian players playing internationally were able to gain cross-cultural insights by interacting with international players. Now, even domestic players have the chance to benefit from this experience. The exposure to different approaches in the WPL broadens the cricketing knowledge of domestic players and helps them develop their skills, the report said.

Also read: Women's Premier League sponsorship rights may turn out to be a money spinner for BCCI

"The WPL has not only the potential to match but also to redefine the global narrative of women’s cricket leagues. Our goal is to have 250 million incremental fans of the women’s game by 2032. India will be hosting the 2025 edition of the Women’s Cricket World Cup, and that will present a great opportunity to build further on the successes women’s cricket has enjoyed in India," said Anurag Dahiya Chief Commercial Officer, ICC (International Cricket Council).

Also read: Women’s Premier League: Franchises attract a number of sponsors, but are they getting due value?

WPL versus IPL

WPL is estimated to be 25-30 percent of IPL's inaugural edition value which Santosh said is significantly strong considering the limited number of matches during WPL.

The IPL commenced with a larger framework, featuring eight teams and a total of 591 matches. In contrast, the WPL started on a more modest scale, with five teams playing 22 matches.

Also read: WPL boost: Women's IPL will catapult Indian cricket to newer heights

Given that the league’s value is linked to the number of matches, this disparity in scale is a significant factor in the valuation differences between the two leagues. The IPL’s season 1 per-match media rights value at Rs 4,700 crore, was notably higher than that of the WPL at Rs 1,250 crore.

IPL value growth

As compared to the last edition, the IPL ecosystem value has risen from Rs 87,000 crore to Rs 92,500 crore, marking an increase of around 6.3 percent, the report said. This year’s IPL ecosystem value demonstrates only a modest increment.

Also read: Story in Charts | The rise of IPL to the world's second most valuable sports league

Emerging as the most valuable franchise this year was Mumbai Indians with a value of USD 410-450 million.