Punjab Kings Owner Expresses Interest in Buying WPL Team | WPL Expansion News
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The Meteoric Rise of Women’s Cricket in India
Women’s cricket has gained significant momentum in the last few years, especially since the Women’s Premier League (WPL) got underway in 2023. This surge in popularity reached a fever pitch following India’s World Cup win in 2025 on home soil. That victory served as a watershed moment in Indian sport, bringing an unprecedented number of eyeballs to the women’s game and proving that the appetite for high-quality women’s cricket is at an all-time high.
Looking at the current trajectory and the steady stream of promising up-and-coming cricketers emerging from the domestic circuit, it is widely expected that the WPL will eventually expand from its current five-team format. However, even without an official announcement regarding expansion, prominent investors are already positioning themselves. Major stakeholders who already own Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises are openly expressing their desire to diversify their portfolios by investing in the women’s league.
Punjab Kings Stakeholder Sets Sights on WPL
Seeing how the WPL has grown in its early stages, Indian businessman Mohit Burman, who owns a 48 per cent stake in the Punjab Kings, recently opened up about his interest in purchasing a WPL side. Burman, who also serves as the Chairman of Dabur, has been vocal in his praise for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and its success in providing a world-class platform for women cricketers.
Speaking on the matter, Burman highlighted the strategic importance of the league. “The WPL has already established itself as an important platform for the women’s game in a very short period of time. The growth of women’s cricket has been fantastic to witness,” he stated. His comments reflect a growing sentiment among corporate India that women’s sports are no longer just a social cause but a viable and lucrative business opportunity.
Strategic Priorities and Future Investments
While some IPL owners jumped at the chance to own a WPL team during the initial auction, Burman explained that the timing of investment varies for every group. “As for investment decisions, every group evaluates opportunities differently depending on timing, strategic priorities and long-term business considerations,” he noted. He was quick to clarify that a lack of initial investment should not be seen as a lack of faith in the product. “Not investing initially should not be interpreted as a lack of belief in women’s cricket. Personally, I think the future of the women’s game is extremely bright. We would love to own a women’s IPL team,” Burman pronounced.
The Current WPL Landscape and BCCI’s Stance
Currently, the WPL operates as a five-team league. Of these five, three franchises—the Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Delhi Capitals—are owned by existing IPL team owners. The competitive nature of the league has been evident from the start, with Mumbai Indians and RCB securing two titles each, while the Delhi Capitals have displayed remarkable consistency by reaching every final since the league’s inception.
Despite the clear interest from the Punjab Kings camp and potential other buyers, the BCCI is currently maintaining a cautious approach toward expansion. The immediate priority for the board is to ensure the long-term stability and quality of the existing teams before adding more franchises to the mix. IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal has previously stated that the focus remains on consolidation. “To further strengthen this tournament for the time being, we want to consolidate before we take a call on further addition of any team. There are no immediate plans to add new teams,” Dhumal explained.
How WPL is Transforming the Indian National Team
For years, the Indian Women’s team has been ranked among the top three or four teams globally, consistently reaching the knockout stages of ICC events. They had made multiple final appearances on the world stage even before the WPL was conceptualized. However, the introduction of the league has provided the missing piece of the puzzle: the ability to handle high-pressure situations against the world’s best talent on a regular basis.
The success of this model is mirrored in Australia, where the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) has been in place since the 2015/16 season. The exposure to high-quality cricket and the opportunity to share dressing rooms with legendary overseas players has traditionally allowed Australian youth talent to develop at an accelerated rate. India is now seeing similar results.
A Global Shift in Women’s T20 Leagues
After just three seasons of the WPL, the impact is visible. The Indian national team showed remarkable composure during crunch moments in the recent World Cup, a trait many players attribute directly to the rigors of the WPL. This trend is not limited to India; other major cricketing nations have established their own successful models, including:
- The Hundred (England)
- WCPL (West Indies)
- Women’s Super Smash (New Zealand)
The global footprint of women’s franchise cricket continues to grow, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) also set to inaugurate the WBPL later this year. For investors like Mohit Burman, the WPL represents the gold standard of these domestic leagues, making a “Women’s Punjab Kings” a highly anticipated prospect for fans and stakeholders alike.
