Defending champions RCB take on Gujarat Giants in the opener on February 14, and the final will be played on March 15
Hemant Brar07-Feb-2025 • Updated on 10-Feb-202514:46
Runorder: Delhi Capitals to win maiden WPL title?
When is WPL 2025 starting?WPL 2025 starts on February 14 in Vadodara, with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) taking on Gujarat Giants (GG). The final will be played on March 15 at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai after 20 league matches and the Eliminator. You can check all the fixtures here.Can you give me a recap of the first two seasons?In the inaugural season in 2023, played exclusively in Mumbai, Harmanpreet Kaur’s Mumbai Indians (MI) beat Meg Lanning’s Delhi Capitals (DC) in the final to lift the trophy. The following season, which was played across Bengaluru and Delhi, was won by RCB under the captaincy of Smriti Mandhana. DC were once again the runners-up.What are the venues this time?For the first time, the WPL is being played across four cities: Vadodara, Bengaluru, Lucknow and Mumbai. The tournament will begin with six games in Vadodara, followed by eight in Bengaluru. Lucknow and Mumbai will then host four games each. That leaves DC with no home games this season.Related
Harmanpreet: WPL has a 'very big role' in lead-up to ODI World Cup
What is the format?Each team will play the other teams twice in the league phase, after which the No. 1 team will qualify for the final directly. The teams placed second and third will play the Eliminator for the other spot in the final.Are there any double-headers this time?None at all, just like in WPL 2024. A total of 22 games will be played over 30 days. All games will start at 7.30pm local time.Who are some of the new faces this time?Not new, really, but West Indies allrounder Deandra Dottin, who was picked by GG for the inaugural season before being released under controversial circumstances, is back with GG. Australia legspinner Alana King will make her WPL debut with UP Warriorz (UPW). Niki Prasad, who recently led India to Under-19 T20 World Cup glory, and her team-mate G Kamalini are also playing their first WPL, for DC and MI, respectively. You can check all the squads here.Is anyone from the previous season missing?RCB have lost Sophie Molineux and Kate Cross to injuries, while Sophie Devine has taken a break from cricket. Charlie Dean, Heather Graham and Kim Garth have replaced them. UPW will be without their designated captain Alyssa Healy, who has a foot injury. Deepti Sharma has replaced her as captain* and Chinelle Henry in the squad. In another captaincy change, Ashleigh Gardner has replaced Beth Mooney at GG. Mooney remains part of the roster.Niki Prasad, India’s World Cup-winning captain, is one of the new faces at the WPL this season•ICC/Getty ImagesWhat about the coaching staff?Mithali Raj and Nooshin Al Khadeer have parted ways with GG. They were the mentor and the assistant coach, respectively. Daniel Marsh (batting coach) and Pravin Tambe (bowling coach) have replaced them. Michael Klinger, the former Australia batter, will continue as their head coach. At MI, former Australia batter Nicole Bolton has replaced England’s Lydia Greenway as fielding coach.Can you remind me about the limit on the number of overseas players in the XI?A team can have up to four overseas players in the XI. A fifth overseas player is allowed if she is from an Associate team. DC are the only team in WPL 2025 to have an Associate player: Scotland wicketkeeper-batter Sarah Bryce.Who are the young players to keep an eye on?Apart from Prasad, DC have got wicketkeeper-batter Nandini Kashyap, who was one of the most consistent batters during the 2024-25 domestic season. At GG, there is legspinner Priya Mishra and allrounder Kashvee Gautam. At the 2024 auction, Kashvee became the most expensive uncapped player in the WPL but had to pull out because of injury.MI have got Kamalini and Amandeep Kaur, the only left-arm wristspinner in the tournament. RCB have middle-order batter Raghvi Bist, who recently scored an unbeaten 31 off 22 balls against West Indies. Wicketkeeper-batter Uma Chetry could play an important role at UPW in Healy’s absence.Where can I watch the games live?Australia: Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports
England: Sky Sports
India: Star Sports and Disney+ Hotstar
South Africa: SuperSport
USA: Willow TV
As always, ESPNcricinfo will have full coverage – latest scores, news, features, analysis, and more.