Since its inception, the WPL has had five teams and played in a caravan format, with each season played in two to four cities. While the league has seen tremendous success, including record viewership, there is a growing demand for expansion and a more immersive experience for fans. With two WPL seasons planned in a short 14-month cycle, the BCCI is accelerating its long-term vision for the league.
While addressing the media at the mega auction, Jindal expressed strong confidence that the WPL will see the addition of one or two new teams in the near future. Jindal also believes that this will finally make way for the much-awaited home-and-away format, similar to the IPL. The DC owner pointed out that the current format is not ideal for fan engagement. A city-based structure, with teams playing in their home stadiums, would create greater fan loyalty and enhance the identity of the tournament.
“I think we would also like to see the WPL home and away, and I think this caravan format is okay, but it is not ideal. I hope so and I am sure the BCCI is working on it. I think the amount of time they get is very short and therefore they have to fit the WPL within this window, but I hope that in the future we get a bigger and longer window for the WPL. I think it is imminent that at some point one or two new teams will come in, and that is the reason why I think the cycle is so short, with the two WPLs happening in fourteen months. So I’m pretty sure the BCCI is planning to add a team, and maybe with that addition we’ll move to a home and away format. That would be ideal for the fans, for the game and for the growth of the WPL,” said Parth Jindal on the sidelines of the auction.
We want an Indian player as captain: Parth Jindal
Adding to his comments, Jindal confirmed that the Delhi Capitals are looking for an Indian captain for the upcoming season. With Meg Lanning stepping down, the franchise has added South African star Laura Wolvaardt for INR 1.10 crore, along with the likes of Chinelle Henry, Shree Charani and Sneh Rana. Jindal revealed that the captaincy would remain with an Indian.
“We did what we could to get Meg, but Wolvaardt will be a good addition and she also brings leadership. The spin department looks very strong with Charani and Sneh. It is clear that we want an Indian player as captain and we have made a decision,” Jindal added.
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