The fourth edition of India's Women's Premier League (WPL) launches Friday amid extraordinary enthusiasm, riding the wave of India's historic maiden World Cup victory last November. The tournament represents more than just cricket—it's a celebration of how far women's sports have come in capturing the imagination of one of the world's most cricket-passionate nations.

India's thrilling World Cup triumph on home soil captivated the entire country, proving that women's cricket has firmly established itself in the mainstream. The achievement has created a ripple effect of positivity, with young girls across the nation now dreaming of wielding a cricket bat professionally.

The WPL, a fast-paced Twenty20 tournament, brings together five teams competing until the February 5 final. Defending champions Mumbai Indians, led by national captain Harmanpreet Kaur, will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in an exciting opening match. The league features India's brightest stars including Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, and Smriti Mandhana, alongside international talents like New Zealand's Amelia Kerr, South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt, and Australia's Ashleigh Gardner.

"In the last three years the WPL has grown in leaps and bounds," celebrates Board of Control for Cricket in India president Mithun Manhas, expressing confidence that the momentum will continue building.

The transformation has been remarkable. South African player Marizanne Kapp emphasizes how crucial these leagues are for developing talent: "When you look at the youngsters coming through now, a lot of that is thanks to leagues like the WPL."

Perhaps most heartening is the cultural shift occurring across India. BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla notes the dramatic change in attitudes: "People never used to send their daughters to play cricket... now I am seeing thousands of girls coming for trial." This represents a profound social transformation, opening doors for countless young women to pursue their athletic dreams.

The financial recognition for these athletes has also reached impressive milestones. Amelia Kerr signed with Mumbai for $335,000, while India's Deepti Sharma became joint second-costliest player in league history at $358,000. While these figures still trail men's cricket, they represent unprecedented earning potential for female athletes in India.

The World Cup final's viewership statistics tell an inspiring story of their own—277 million viewers tuned in, matching the audience for the last men's T20 World Cup final. The International Cricket Council declared it a "new era" for the sport, and the numbers back up that optimism.

Since its 2023 launch, the WPL has generated approximately $700 million in franchise and media rights, making it the world's second most valuable women's sports league after the WNBA. The tournament has championed gender equality, with former BCCI secretary and current ICC chairman Jay Shah introducing equal match fees for male and female players.

WPL chairman Jayesh George envisions an ambitious future: "We should go on par with IPL in the next couple of years." Given the extraordinary trajectory of women's cricket in India, that goal seems increasingly achievable, promising even brighter days ahead for female athletes and fans alike.