The inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL) auction is underway on Monday (February 13). After Indian opener Smriti Mandhana was bought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for INR 3.4 crores, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur has been roped in by Mumbai Indians (MI) for INR 1.8 crores (INR 18 million). Kaur, known for his captaincy and power-hitting skills, was a big name in the auction and grabbed a lot of eyeballs once her name popped up.&nbsp;MI had to fight hard as they got into a bidding war with Delhi Capitals (DC), UP Warriorz (UW), and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to bag Harmanpreet's services.

Harmanpreet has been a big name in the international circuit. She has been India's T20I captain since 2017 and succeeded Mithali Raj to become the ODI skipper after her international retirement last year. Under Harmanpreet, India reached the 2020 T20 World Cup final and secured a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2022 edition in Birmingham. She has scored six international hundreds -- five in ODIs and a solitary one in the shortest format -- with a career-best of 171* in the 2017 ODI WC semi-final (versus Australia).

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wpl-2023-auction-smriti-mandhana-becomes-first-female-player-to-be-sold-goes-to-rcb-for-inr-34-crores-561457">WPL 2023 Auction: Smriti Mandhana becomes first female player to be sold, goes to RCB for INR 3.4 crores</a>

Harmanpreet is expected to take charge of the MI franchise. If this happens, both the senior men's and women's team captains will be leading the Mumbai franchise. Senior men's team's captain Rohit Sharma has been captaining the MI line-up since IPL 2013.&nbsp;

Harmanpreet has appeared in three tests, 124 ODIs, and 147 T20Is for Team India. In T20Is, she has so far amassed&nbsp;2,956 runs, at 28.15, with one century and nine half-centuries. Thus, she is expected to take WPL by storm when the inaugural edition kicks off in India next month. At present, she is leading India in the ongoing Women's T20 WC in South Africa.

The inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL) auction is underway on Monday (February 13). After Indian opener Smriti Mandhana was bought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for INR 3.

The inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL) auction is underway on Monday (February 13). After Indian opener Smriti Mandhana was bought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for INR 3.4 crores, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur has been roped in by Mumbai Indians (MI) for INR 1.8 crores (INR 18 million). Kaur, known for his captaincy and power-hitting skills, was a big name in the auction and grabbed a lot of eyeballs once her name popped up. MI had to fight hard as they got into a bidding war with Delhi Capitals (DC), UP Warriorz (UW), and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to bag Harmanpreet's services. Harmanpreet has been a big name in the international circuit. She has been India's T20I captain since 2017 and succeeded Mithali Raj to become the ODI skipper after her international retirement last year. Under Harmanpreet, India reached the 2020 T20 World Cup final and secured a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2022 edition in Birmingham. She has scored six international hundreds -- five in ODIs and a solitary one in the shortest format -- with a career-best of 171* in the 2017 ODI WC semi-final (versus Australia). Also Read: WPL 2023 Auction: Smriti Mandhana becomes first female player to be sold, goes to RCB for INR 3.4 crores Harmanpreet is expected to take charge of the MI franchise. If this happens, both the senior men's and women's team captains will be leading the Mumbai franchise. Senior men's team's captain Rohit Sharma has been captaining the MI line-up since IPL 2013. Harmanpreet has appeared in three tests, 124 ODIs, and 147 T20Is for Team India. In T20Is, she has so far amassed 2,956 runs, at 28.15, with one century and nine half-centuries. Thus, she is expected to take WPL by storm when the inaugural edition kicks off in India next month. At present, she is leading India in the ongoing Women's T20 WC in South Africa.

WPL Auction: Team India captain Harmanpreet Kaur joins Mumbai Indians for INR 1.8 crores

In what comes as a gigantic step for women's cricket and especially Women's IPL (WIPL), broadcasting giant Viacom 18 on Monday acquired the media rights for the tournament.

In what comes as a gigantic step for women's cricket and especially Women's IPL (WIPL), broadcasting giant Viacom 18 on Monday acquired the media rights for the tournament. Viacom 18 won media rights for WIPL for a period of five years (2023-2027) for $116.7 million with per match value coming down to approximately $857,000. The tournament will be starting in March 2023 and is likely to be completed in a one-month window. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah took to Twitter to inform about the landmark deal and said it was a historic mandate for the women's game. "After pay equity, today's bidding for media rights for Women's IPL marks another historic mandate. It's a big and decisive step for empowerment of women's cricket in India, which will ensure participation of women from all ages. A new dawn indeed!" Congratulations @viacom18 for winning the Women’s @IPL media rights. Thank you for your faith in @BCCI and @BCCIWomen. Viacom has committed INR 951 crores which means per match value of INR 7.09 crores for next 5 years (2023-27). This is massive for Women’s Cricket 🙏🇮🇳 — Jay Shah (@JayShah) January 16, 2023 × A closed-bid auction method was used to decide the winner. Eight bidders had bought the tender document for the media rights which was put on sale last month. Unlike IPL media rights, which were divided into different categories and awarded to different broadcasters, Viacom 18 will have access to linear (TV), digital and combined (TV and digital). It was in October last year that the BCCI, after years of dillydallying finally decided to greenlight the women's version of the IPL. The inaugural edition is expected to be a five-team affair. According to various media reports, owners of men's IPL teams such as Delhi Capitals, Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gujarat Titans ad Punjab Kings are among those who have submitted bids. BCCI has set January 23 as the deadline for technical bids for the same to be submitted. Meanwhile, the maiden players' auction is expected to take place next month. WIPL will replace the Women’s T20 Challenge, which was a two-team tournament that started off in 2018 with just one match. It then grew to a three-team exhibition tournament in the following year, and then took place in 2020 and 2022 as well. Read more: BCCI approves women's IPL, first edition to be staged in 2023 Women's cricket has been on the precipice of a major turnaround for quite some time now. WIPL is expected to revolutionise the women's game, just the way IPL did for the men's game. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

BIG! Viacom 18 bags Women's IPL media rights for $116 million over a five-year period

A BCCI-organised T20 tournament for women, similar to that of the IPL, which is&nbsp;likely to be called as the Women’s T20 league (scheduled for 3rd – 26th March, 2023) will consist of five teams. While the board has invited some unnamed reputed entities to bid for the women’s IPL teams, the date for the player’s registration for the first-ever women’s auction is also&nbsp;out. The BCCI in a document named ‘Guidance note for Indian Players’ that is shared with all Indian players state that all capped and uncapped Indian players must register online for the Women’s IPL auction at or before 5 PM IST on January 26th.

This competition will replace the Women’s T20 Challenge, which was a two-team tournament that started off in 2018 with just one match. It then grew to a three-team exhibition tournament in the following year, and then took place in 2020 and 2022 as well.

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As per ESPNcricinfo, who are believed to have accessed the document, noted that the base price – mentioned as ‘reserve price’ for the capped Indian players is set at INR 30 lakh, INR 40 lakh and INR 50 lakh, whereas, for the uncapped Indian players it is INR 20 lakh and INR 10 lakh.

It was during 2022 when the then BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had said the Women’s IPL will take place in 2023. In August last year, BCCI decided to lock March 2023 as the window for the Women’s IPL to get underway. For that, they even rescheduled the whole women’s cricket calendar, which usually runs from November to April.

Meanwhile, a lot of IPL franchises including Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore and even Punjab Kings have shown interest in bidding for a team in the Women’s IPL.

In December last year, the BCCI had invited bids for media rights from 2023-27 for the proposed Women’s T20 league.

A BCCI-organised T20 tournament for women, similar to that of the IPL, which is likely to be called as the Women’s T20 league (scheduled for 3rd – 26th March, 2023) will consist of five teams.

A BCCI-organised T20 tournament for women, similar to that of the IPL, which is likely to be called as the Women’s T20 league (scheduled for 3rd – 26th March, 2023) will consist of five teams. While the board has invited some unnamed reputed entities to bid for the women’s IPL teams, the date for the player’s registration for the first-ever women’s auction is also out. The BCCI in a document named ‘Guidance note for Indian Players’ that is shared with all Indian players state that all capped and uncapped Indian players must register online for the Women’s IPL auction at or before 5 PM IST on January 26th. This competition will replace the Women’s T20 Challenge, which was a two-team tournament that started off in 2018 with just one match. It then grew to a three-team exhibition tournament in the following year, and then took place in 2020 and 2022 as well. ALSO READ: BCCI announces All-India Senior Men Selection Committee, reappoints Chetan Sharma as chief selector As per ESPNcricinfo, who are believed to have accessed the document, noted that the base price – mentioned as ‘reserve price’ for the capped Indian players is set at INR 30 lakh, INR 40 lakh and INR 50 lakh, whereas, for the uncapped Indian players it is INR 20 lakh and INR 10 lakh. It was during 2022 when the then BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had said the Women’s IPL will take place in 2023. In August last year, BCCI decided to lock March 2023 as the window for the Women’s IPL to get underway. For that, they even rescheduled the whole women’s cricket calendar, which usually runs from November to April. Meanwhile, a lot of IPL franchises including Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore and even Punjab Kings have shown interest in bidding for a team in the Women’s IPL. In December last year, the BCCI had invited bids for media rights from 2023-27 for the proposed Women’s T20 league.

Women's IPL auction to take place in February, BCCI announces final date for players' registration