These surreal scenes were once unimaginable in India, where women’s cricket had developed slowly due to underfunding and cultural norms.

The final of the 2024 Women’s Premier League – where players earn huge pay cheques with the broadcast value per-game around $1 million – was played in front of a giddy 30,000 crowd at Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in New Delhi.

The terraces filled with color were dotted by many young girls undoubtedly inspired by the deeds of some of the very best women cricketers on the planet. For the record, Royal Challengers Bangalore downed Meg Lanning’s Delhi Capitals and they celebrated mightily, but this was about so much more than merely crowning champions.

“The support we received last season, especially in Bangalore, was overwhelming,” reflected Lanning, arguably the GOAT of women’s cricket. “It’s great to see the women’s game getting this level of recognition, and a tournament like WPL plays a crucial role in growing the sport globally.”

ForbesLucrative Women’s Premier League Is Changing Cricket’s LandscapeBy Tristan Lavalette

There is a lot of flak thrown at Indian administrator Jay Shah, who now runs global cricket, but his signature achievement of his career might forever be as the driving force of the WPL.

The WPL had grown in popularity a lot faster than expected despite the huge amounts of money invested into this tournament hailed as a game-changer. Serious investment has been put into the WPL, whose five teams fetched $572 million on the back of Viacom 18 forking out $116 million for the media rights for the next five years.

Entering its third season, the WPL is looking to cement its standing and continue to build a legion of fans. The all-powerful Indian governing body has been encouraged by the success and decided to expand underlining the tournament’s rapid rise.

It has grown in length to a month-long tournament and this season there is also geographical expansion to Vadodara and Lucknow with the WPL undoubtedly set to also increase in teams in the future.

Remuneration for players is astronomical. Top players receive $400,000 and in the recent auction Mumbai’s Simran Shaikh was snapped up for $224,000, while veteran West Indian Deandra Dottin received $200,000 from Gujarat.

“For young girls to see what’s possible and what the pathway is to play for franchises all over the world and for the country is inspiring,” Lanning said. “It gives you something to work towards and achieve.

“The development and improvement of so many players to watch has been incredible. They have been getting better just with the opportunity the WPL gives them.”

From next season, the WPL will be played in January-February from 2026 amid a women’s Future Tours Programme for the 2025-29 cycle. Right now, it is something of a precursor to the money-spinning Indian Premier League but it’s move to launching the cricket year underscores its heft.

As Australian star Beth Mooney stroked the first boundary of the season on Friday in Vadodara, excited fans in new surroundings were ready to go stir crazy for a tournament going from strength to strength.