Mumbai

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has set aside a window in March 2023 for the first-ever edition of the women's Indian Premier League (IPL) and the process to get the show on the road is underway.

The board has made changes to its women's domestic cricket calendar to make way for the women's IPL.

The women's season that generally goes on from November to April has been advanced by a month. It will now begin on October 11 with a T20 competition and end in February 2023 with an inter-zonal ODI competition.

Since 2018, BCCI has been organising the Women's T20 Challenge. What started as a one-off exhibition match between two teams in the first season is now a three-team competition.

Many players from outside India have also joined the competition. But despite this, the clamour to have a much bigger competition just like men's IPL has been growing among players and fans for a while.

Earlier in February this year, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had stated that the women's IPL would be held next year. "We are at the level of formulation to have a full-fledged WIPL. It is certainly going to happen. I strongly believe that next year i.e., 2023 will be a very good time to start a full-fledged women's IPL which will be as big and grand a success as men's IPL."

ALSO READ: Cricket: First time in 139 years, 2023 Ashes set to be moved forward

Owners of IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals and Barbados Royals, The Knight Riders Group have expressed their interest in getting involved in the tournament and owning a women's IPL team.