The inaugural Women's Premier League auction in 2023 produced eye-catching contracts for some players but raised sharp questions about the pay gap between the highest-paid WPL stars and the majority of players, and about whether the league genuinely elevated the financial standing of women's cricket globally.
When the BCCI launched the Women's Premier League in 2023, the auction generated international headlines. Smriti Mandhana became the most expensive female cricketer in history, sold for ₹3.4 crore (approximately $400,000). Nat Sciver-Brunt fetched ₹3.2 crore. The top prices were genuine landmarks — amounts that transformed what elite women's cricketers could earn.
But the broader auction told a more complicated story. The vast majority of players — particularly those from associate nations and developing cricket countries — received base prices that, while higher than typical women's cricket contracts globally, were still modest. A player at the base price of ₹10 lakh (approximately $12,000) for a two-month tournament was earning well by previous standards but not at a level that made franchise cricket a financially transformative career in the way male IPL contracts had been.
The structural question that critics raised was about the distribution of the league's earnings. The BCCI had sold WPL franchise rights for ₹4,669 crore — a sum that dwarfed the total player salary pool by a significant multiple. The ratio of franchise revenue to player salary in the WPL was far less favourable for players than even the existing male IPL ratio.
International players — particularly from England, Australia, and the West Indies — also raised questions about the impact on bilateral women's cricket. The WPL window required their availability away from domestic schedules, and the physical and scheduling demands of the tournament added to already heavy workloads.
Despite the criticisms, the WPL was widely acknowledged as a watershed moment for women's cricket commercially. The question was whether the watershed moment had been used to maximise the benefit to players or primarily to maximise BCCI commercial returns.
Smriti Mandhana sold for ₹3.4 crore — most expensive female cricketer in history
Base-price players earn ₹10 lakh — significant gap from top earners
BCCI franchise rights sold for ₹4,669 crore — player salary pool much smaller
International players raise scheduling concerns
WPL receives global media coverage — acknowledged as a landmark
“This is a huge step for women's cricket in India and globally. The fact that we're having conversations about ₹3-4 crore for women cricketers is something I never imagined when I started playing.”
“The WPL is great for the game but we need to make sure the scheduling doesn't burn out players. International cricket has to remain a priority too.”
The WPL grew significantly in its second and third seasons. Franchise revenue increased, and player salaries in subsequent auctions rose considerably. By 2025, the WPL was considered the second-most valuable women's sports league in the world, though pay equity debates continued.
The WPL proceeded successfully as a competition. No formal controversy or disciplinary action. The pay distribution debate was acknowledged by the BCCI, which committed to reviewing salary structures as the league developed. The WPL was considered a net positive for women's cricket but with acknowledged structural inequities.
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