By Sports Desk, Mumbai | March 22, 2025
The much-awaited Women’s Indian Premier League (WIPL) 2025 began today with a high-energy opening match at Bangalore’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Defending champions Mumbai Warriors faced last year’s runners-up, Delhi Dynamos, in a clash that drew over 35,000 fans. The match started at 7:30 PM IST under bright floodlights, marking the official launch of the third season of the Women’s IPL.
Teams and Players in Focus
This year, the league expanded to six teams, adding Gujarat Falcons and Chennai Strikers. Mumbai Warriors retained star batter Smriti Mandhana as captain, while Delhi Dynamos’ Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and chose to bowl first. Young talents like Shafali Verma (Delhi) and Richa Ghosh (Mumbai) were in the spotlight, alongside international stars like Australia’s Ellyse Perry (Bengaluru Blazers) and England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt (Gujarat Falcons).
Opening Ceremony Sets the Tone
Before the match, a 30-minute opening ceremony lit up the stadium. Bollywood singer Neha Kakkar performed hit songs, while dancers dressed as cricket legends paraded with team flags. Fireworks spelled “WIPL 2025” in the sky, and BCCI Secretary Jay Shah announced a 40% rise in prize money, with the winner taking home ₹12 crore.
Mumbai Warriors Post Competitive Total
Mumbai Warriors scored 162/5 in 20 overs, thanks to Richa Ghosh’s explosive 58 off 34 balls. The 21-year-old hit six boundaries and two sixes, including a reverse-scoop off Delhi’s Radha Yadav. Mandhana contributed 32 runs, while Delhi’s left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad took 2/28. Delhi’s fielding impressed, with Shafali Verma taking a stunning catch to dismiss Hayley Matthews (18).
Delhi Dynamos Chase Falls Short
In reply, Delhi Dynamos managed 148/8, losing by 14 runs. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur top-scored with 47 off 30 balls but fell to Mumbai’s Pooja Vastrakar in the 17th over. Jemimah Rodrigues added 29 runs, while Mumbai’s Shabnim Ismail claimed 3/22, including the key wicket of Laura Wolvaardt (9). The match ended with Mumbai’s fans cheering as Issy Wong bowled a tight final over.
Post-Match Reactions
“Richa’s innings gave us the momentum,” said Smriti Mandhana. Harmanpreet Kaur admitted, “We lost too many wickets early.” Player of the Match Richa Ghosh thanked coaches for “backing my aggressive style.”
League Growth Highlights
The 2025 season features 34 matches across six cities, with salaries up by 25% (top earners like Mandhana now earn ₹1.2 crore). Sponsorship crossed ₹350 crore, a 60% jump from 2023. Star Sports reported a record 12 million pre-match streaming requests.
Upcoming Matches
Tomorrow, Gujarat Falcons play Rajasthan Royals in Ahmedabad, with Perry vs. Deepti Sharma as the key duel. Sunday’s double-header includes Chennai Strikers vs. Kolkata Knight Queens.
How to Watch
Matches air live on Star Sports and JioCinema. Fans can track ball-by-ball updates on the BCCI app or WIPL’s social media.
A New Era for Women’s Cricket
With sold-out crowds and rising global interest, WIPL 2025 aims to solidify women’s cricket in India. As former captain Mithali Raj tweeted, “This league isn’t just cricket—it’s a revolution.”
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