The WPL has been an impressive league and one that has seen exponential growth. How can it not, it has provided cricket fans with what we love the most- entertainment. Let’s look at how several factors came together to ensure WPL’s success.
High-intensity competition
If you take a look at the WPL points table at this point, it is indicative of a highly competitive league where no team is giving away an easy win to their opponents. Even the bottom-ranked Gujarat Giants fought toe-to-toe against the top-ranked Mumbai Indians, losing out by a single run! Their match before saw them defeat the mighty RCB team with a heavy total posted on board. This shows that every team is giving their best and isn’t losing hope, and it’s doing wonders for competitive cricket. The WPL itself has highly improved in entertainment value from its inaugural edition.
Viewership
Everyone knows that the most intense situations toward the end of games where the result can go either way attract the most viewership, and this year’s WPL has been packed with those matches. Whether it is a tense 1 run win or a last-ball finish, WPL seems to have it all, and the fans are loving it. With concurrent viewership touching crores, the league’s impact is clear. Some of the matches this year even boast of a lively 30,000+ crowd in stadiums, which is no mean feat and shows how willing people are to watch great cricket, be it men’s or women’s.
Big Moments, Big Players
Every team in the WPL has seen some players stepping up when their team needed them the most, and these players have been the key difference that helped teams cross that line. This year started with Sajeevan Sajana coming out of nowhere and winning the match with a crucial, crucial six of the first balls she faced to flip the match on its head. The tournament since then has seen several players who were relatively unknown to bring glory to both their franchise and themselves. They are proving that the WPL is a platform to launch new talent. Scouts, keep a close eye on the WPL!
Strike Rates
Something that turned people away from women’s cricket for a while was the comparatively slow-paced cricket, which meant low-scoring games that didn’t seem to have the kick that a good game of cricket should have. But come to the WPL, fans have been treated to some belligerent hitting and peak-pressure matches. After the blitzkrieg knock of 95 not out by Harmanpreet Kaur, the Mumbai Indians recorded the highest chase in WPL history, further cementing themselves as the absolute chase masters. This match is indicative of the progress of WPL, with teams frequently posting 180+ scores and teams that have fought beautifully to chase high scores. The strike rates have improved consistently and while this may not entirely be credited to the WPL itself, it has played a huge role in it.
The WPL’s progress has been delightful to watch and it is a testament to the brand of cricket that women now have decided to adopt, and the limelight has deservedly been awarded to them. As we inch closer to the playoffs, it’s safe to say we are in for an unforgettable ride.
