Friday, October 23, 2026

Women’s Cricket Franchises Could Fetch More Than $180M

  • The Women’s Indian Premier League begins in March.
  • The Board of Control for Cricket in India has reportedly set a base price of $49.1 million for a franchise.
Female cricket player batting
BCCI

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

The Women’s Indian Premier League begins in March — and teams are pricey.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has reportedly set a base price of $49.1 million for a WIPL franchise, with the belief that each of the five franchises will fetch between $122.9 million and $184.3 million at the upcoming auction.

  • The base price for a WIPL franchise will reportedly equate to what the men’s franchises cost ahead of their inaugural season in 2008.
  • The cost would be paid over five years.
  • The BCCI is reportedly likely to send out tender documents to interested parties.

Jay Shah, secretary for the BCCI and president of the Asian Cricket Council, previously said he was hopeful owners of the men’s 10 IPL teams would bid for a women’s team. The Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, and Mumbai Indians previously expressed interest.

IPL

IPL Launching Women’s League As Viewership Rises

The Indian Premier League is leveraging the men’s league’s popularity to plan…
May 9, 2022

Media rights to the 22-match competition, which will take place over a month, will be sold in a closed auction in January. 

Cricket Mania

Cricket is feeling the love across the board. The women’s side may just be starting, but the men’s side is outpacing other major leagues.

The Indian Premier League secured a record $6.02 billion for streaming and TV rights in June and is third to only the English Premier League and the NFL in viewership, per BCCI estimates. 

IPL club valuations are also growing at a faster rate than NFL and NBA teams.

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

How Real American Freestyle Thinks It Could Change Wrestling

RAF has renegotiated its media-rights deal with Fox Nation eight times.
FILE PHOTO: Cricket - Indian Premier League - IPL - Mumbai Indians v Chennai Super Kings - Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, India - April 23, 2026 Mumbai Indians' Suryakumar Yadav in action

India Is Stealing Cricket’s Throne From England and Australia

India’s insatiable appetite for cricket has shifted the traditional locus of power.
Exclusive

NFL Flag Championship Sees Highest Rating Yet

In its third year, the NFL Flag Championships delivered record viewership.
Cricket - Indian Premier League - IPL - Final - Royal Challengers Bengaluru v Punjab Kings - Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, India - June 4, 2025 Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Rajat Patidar lifts the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after winning the Indian Premier League

How Private Equity Fell in Love With Indian Cricket

India’s U.S.-style cricket league has become a private-equity playground.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

10/23/26 – JJ Watt Takes CBS Chair, FIFA Rights Shake-Up, Small-Market World Series

0:00

Featured Today

Oct 4, 2025; Tempe, AZ, USA; General action during the first period of the game between the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Penn State Nittany Lions at Mullett Arena

How Military-Style Workouts in College Sports Get Dangerous

For elite athletes, high-intensity training can be “very appealing.”
September 6, 2026

Is Carolyn Tisch Blodgett the Future Face of Giants Ownership?

Amid changes at top of Giants ownership, eyes are on Tisch Blodgett.
September 4, 2026

Wild Transfer Window Shows How Premier League Towers Over Soccer

Spending in England vastly outstripped the rest of Europe.
September 3, 2026

Teams Are Spending Millions to Build Luxury Locker Rooms

It’s a recruiting pitch, a retention tool, and a seven-figure line item.
September 1, 2026

High School Football Sidelines Are Clogged With Content Creators

Administrators call these amateur newcomers the “pajama paparazzi.”

Clippers Reverse Course and Accept NBA Punishment

Steve Ballmer said he has “sincere regrets.”
Sep 9, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) looks on during the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium.
September 10, 2026

Ohtani Heads to Injured List as Dodgers Aim for Third Title

The two-way phenom is making a rare trip to the injured list.
September 11, 2026

49ers Win Battle of Australia Travel Plans

The Niners blew out the Rams on Thursday.
Sponsored

Drew Weatherford’s Bet on the Youth Sports Economy

Drew Weatherford discusses investing across the youth, college and professional levels.
September 8, 2026

Mayfield, Bucs Break Impasse With Three-Year Extension

The deal runs through the 2029 season.
Aug 30, 2026; Woodland Hills, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay at practice at the Rams Practice Facility
September 5, 2026

Why Are the Niners and Rams Getting to Australia a Week Apart?

The 49ers are already there, while the Rams have yet to leave.
Washington Redskins football shirts and a team flag on sale at a sporting goods store in Bailey's Crossroads, Virginia, U.S., June 24, 2020. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
September 4, 2026

Native Leaders to Commanders: Drop Old Name for Good

The franchise says there are no plans to revert to its old name.
Aug 25, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; General overall view of Seattle Seahawks logo at CenturyLink Field during a NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Exclusive
September 4, 2026

Mark Stevens Is Seahawks’ Top Minority Investor

Other investors joined the Seahawks’ new ownership from the Mittal-Grousbeck group.