WIPL bidding breaks IPL’s 2008 record; Adani wins Ahmedabad team with top bid of Rs 1,289 cr

Sources in the know told ET that Adani Group, Reliance, Diageo, Capri Global and JSW Group have won the Women’s IPL teams in closed-door bidding.

The Adani Group’s Adani Sportsline Pvt Ltd won the bid Ahmedabad team with the highest bid of Rs 1,289 crore while Reliance Industries’ Indiawin Sports Pvt Ltd won the Mumbai team with the second-highest bid of Rs 912 crore.

Diageo, the RCB owner, won the Bengaluru team with a Rs 901 crore bid. JSW’s JSW GMR Pvt Ltd has won the Delhi team for Rs 810 crore while Capri Global Holdings emerged the fifth highest bidder with Rs 757 crore bid for team Lucknow.

“This marks the beginning of a revolution in women’s cricket and paves the way for a transformative journey ahead not only for our women cricketers but for the entire sports fraternity. The #WPL would bring necessary reforms in women’s cricket and would ensure an all-encompassing ecosystem that benefits each and every stakeholder,” said BCCI’s Honorary Secretary Jay Shah in a tweet.

More than 30 odd companies had bought the bid documents worth Rs 5 lakh including all the 10 men’s IPL team. Some of these companies were unsuccessful when BCCI invited bids for two new men’s teams in 2021.

Among the traditional IPL teams, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, KKR could seriously contemplate to add to the bouquet of their already existing men’s teams across the globe.

Viacom18 secured the Women’s Indian Premier League (IPL) media rights value for the 2023-2027 cycle for a whopping Rs 951 crore, which means per match value of INR 7.09 crore for the next five years.

The BCCI has not officially released the tournament’s schedule, but it is widely believed that the first season, which would consist of 22 matches, will take place between March 5 and March 23.

Uncapped cricketers have been given two alternatives, while players with caps–those who have represented India or are currently on a central contract–can select either Rs. 30 lakh, Rs. 40 lakh, or Rs. 50 lakh as their base pricing (Rs. 10 lakh and Rs. 20 lakh).

Prior to the WIPL, the base price has been separated into five categories, ranging from Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 50 lakh. The auction’s registration cutoff date is January 26.