WPL vs WBBL Comparison - Who’s Leading the Race?

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Introduction

In recent years, women’s cricket leagues have evolved from the shadows into the spotlight. Two premier leagues—India’s Women’s Premier League (WPL) and Australia’s Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL)—are at the center of this transformation. But as the WPL makes its mark with three completed seasons (2023 to 2025), how does it stack up against the more established WBBL?

Let’s dive into a head-to-head comparison of WPL vs WBBL—across players, viewership, money, competitiveness, and impact.

1. Origins and Format

WBBL: Launched in 10 July, 2015 by Cricket Australia, now boasts 8 teams, follows a league and knockout format, and is part of Australia’s summer cricket culture.
WPL: Founded in 2022 but first season launched in 2023 by BCCI with 5 teams, using a group + eliminator + final format, shorter season but higher impact.

WBBL has history.
WPL has hype and momentum.

2. Viewership & Popularity

WBBL 09 (2023–24): Reached ~10 million total TV viewers in Australia; digital views on Kayo & 7Plus in millions.
WPL 2025: Over 70 million digital views in India alone (JioCinema & Sports18), with record peak concurrency during the final (~10M+).

WPL is surging due to India’s massive digital audience and cricket culture.

3. Pay & Player Contracts

WBBL top salary: ~AUD 100,000 (≈ ₹55 lakhs)
WPL top salary: ₹3.4 crore (Smriti Mandhana in 2023)
Average WBBL salary: ~AUD 25,000–60,000
Average WPL salary: ~₹40–80 lakhs

WPL offers 3x to 4x bigger contracts. It’s changing lives overnight.

4. Star Power & Global Mix

WBBL: Features top Aussies (Mooney, Perry, Healy), with steady international talent.
WPL: Attracts global superstars (Sciver-Brunt, Tahila McGrath, Meg Lanning) and India’s best (Harmanpreet, Shafali, Richa).

WPL’s IPL-like auction and fanfare boosts its star quotient significantly.

5. Competitiveness & Game Quality

WBBL: Balanced, unpredictable. 6 different champions in 9 seasons.
WPL: Dominance seen—MI (2023), DC (2024), RCB (2025) champions so far, but finals have been thrilling.

WBBL offers tight contests over a longer season; WPL brings knockout drama.

6. Broadcast & Sponsorship

WBBL: Broadcast on Channel 7 & Fox Cricket; sponsors like Weber, KFC.
WPL: Sold for ₹951 crore to Viacom18 for 5 years—more than men’s BBL! Key sponsors: Tata, Dream11.

WPL is a commercial juggernaut already.

7. Grassroots & Impact

WBBL: Contributed massively to Australia’s World Cup wins; girls’ participation up 25% since 2015.
WPL: Encouraged BCCI to launch U-15 Girls National League in 2024; already inspiring young talent across India.

Both leagues are changing the grassroots landscape, but WBBL’s maturity still gives it an edge.

Conclusion: Who’s Leading the Race?

WBBL is the pioneer—polished, consistent, and structured.
WPL is the disruptor—flashy, high-stakes, and money-rich.

While WBBL holds the edge in maturity and game quality, the WPL is catching up fast on every front—especially in fan engagement, salary structure, and global appeal. It’s not about one being better—it’s about how both are elevating women’s cricket globally.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Which league started first—WPL or WBBL?
A: WBBL started in 2015, while WPL launched in 2023.

Q2. Who has the highest salary in WPL so far?
A: Smriti Mandhana was signed for ₹3.4 crore in 2023, the highest WPL bid yet. Reference- The Daily Jagran Report.

Q3. Which league has better viewership—WPL or WBBL?
A: WPL leads in digital viewership due to India’s large audience base.

Q4. Who won the WPL titles from 2023 to 2025?

2023 – Mumbai Indians
2024 – Royal Challengers Bangalore
2025 – Mumbai Indians

Q5. Who held the Orange Cap for each season?

2023: Meg Lanning (DC) – scored 345 runs from 9 matches
2024: Ellyse Perry (RCB) – topped with 347 runs in 9 matches
2025: Nat Sciver‑Brunt (MI) – amassed 523 runs across 10 matches

Q6. Who held the Purple Cap for each season?

2023: Hayley Matthews (MI) – topped with 16 wickets in 10 matches.
2024: Shreyanka Patil (RCB) – led the wickets with 13 dismissals
2025: Amelia Kerr (MI) – took 18 wickets to secure the Purple Cap

Q7. Who was the youngest player in WPL 2025?
A: Mumbai Indians signed teenage sensation G Kamalini (India) in 2025.

However, the youngest player to actually play was 13-year-old left-arm seamer Anshu Nagar (selected by MI but did not make the final playing XI).

Q8. Top 3 highest paid WPL players in 2025?

Smriti Mandhana – ₹3.4 crore
Nat Sciver-Brunt – ₹3.2 crore
Ashleigh Gardener – ₹3.2 crore

Q9. Can WPL become bigger than WBBL in the future?
A: With its financial strength, massive audience, and IPL-style ecosystem, WPL has every potential to outgrow WBBL in the next 2–3 years.