BCCI plans to organise exhibition women’s T20s during upcoming IPL

After India Women’s brilliant run to the final of the World Cup last year, they followed it up with a domineering ODI and T20I series wins in South Africa this year, which has only added value to the huge popularity they have gained if late. BCCI was asked if they would consider starting a women's league like Australia have successfully done with Women's Big Bash League (WBBL), and after long discussions, the idea has seemed to have taken some shape with the board mulling over initiating baby steps with exhibition T20s.

During last October’s IPL Governing Council meeting, the idea was first mooted and the members had deliberated on the requirement for a women's event besides an event for the juniors. Committee of Administrators (CoA) chairman Vinod Rai, has now revealed the plan and stated that the board is committed to hosting a women's IPL in the near future with this year seeing some development in the plan.

"If we find that we can host a few exhibition matches then BCCI would like to do it this year. The women cricketers deserve to play IPL," Rai told TOI on Sunday.

Former India's women's team skipper and CoA member Diana Edulji, however, admitted that a lot of planning would be needed before the idea to host the mega event becomes a reality.

"The IPL GC may discuss it for sure. If it's feasible we will do it. I am all for women's IPL. But it's too late this year to come up with a full-fledged event because of time constraint. We need a different window and, therefore, we can't rush into it. It needs a lot of planning," Edulji said.

The Indian women’s team will be playing a series against England next month and once that is done, they will host Australia and England for a tri-series in a bid to prepare themselves for the first-ever standalone Women’s World T20. India are also supposed to play a home series against Australia and if things go as planned, some top players from various nations will be invited for this year's event.