WPL expansion? Delhi Capitals owner hints at new teams
What's the story
Delhi Capitals owner Parth Jindal has hinted at the possible expansion of the Women's Premier League (WPL). Speaking on the sidelines of the WPL mega auction, Jindal said he was pretty sure that BCCI was planning to introduce at least one more franchise in the tournament. The move could mark a significant step in the growth and popularity of women's cricket in India.
Format change
Jindal advocates for home and away format
When asked about the tournament's format, Jindal said a home-and-away system would be better than a caravan-style one. He stressed that such a change would not only benefit the league's growth but also provide fans with more engagement opportunities. "I think we would love to see the WPL home and away as well," he said while adding that "this caravan format is okay, but it is not ideal."
Future plans
Jindal hopes for longer WPL window
Jindal also expressed his hope for a bigger and longer window for the WPL in the future. He said, "I think the amount of time that they get is very short and that is why they have to fit the WPL within this window." He further added, "I am pretty sure that the BCCI is planning on adding a team, and maybe with that addition we move to a home-and-away format."
Auction results
Delhi Capitals's performance in WPL mega auction
During the WPL mega auction, Delhi Capitals made some strategic buys. They opened the bidding for World Cup hero Deepti Sharma but lost her to UP Warriorz. However, they did manage to acquire Laura Wolvaardt (₹1.10 crore), Chinelle Henry (₹1.30 crore), Shree Charani (₹1.30 crore), and Sneh Rana (₹50 lakh), among others, strengthening their existing squad in the process.
Captaincy decision
Jindal's stance on team captaincy
When asked if Wolvaardt would be the successor of Meg Lanning, Jindal clarified that DC was very clear about having an Indian captain this season. "We are clear that we want an Indian player as the captain, and we have our minds made up," he said. This statement puts Jemimah Rodrigues in a strong position to take over the captaincy next season.