By Matt Hardy
This afternoon sees the first ever Women’s premier League (WPL) match take place as the India-based domestic franchise competition, sister to the IPL, takes off.
Five teams will take part in the competition – the Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore and UP Warriorz.
The sides will compete in a double round-robin league format with eliminators and a final thereafter.
Here’s what you need to know about each team
Delhi Capitals
- City: New Delhi
- Owners: JSE Group–GMR Group
- Captain: Meg Lanning
- Head Coach Jonathan Batty
The New Delhi-based team is owned by steel and infrastructure firm JSW Group and airport and energy firm GMR Group. They will be captained by Australian top-order batter Meg Lanning – who has played 100 times for the Green and Golds – and coached by ex-Surrey and Gloucestershire wicket-keeper.
Gujarat Giants
- City: Ahmedabad
- Owners: Adani Group
- Captain: Beth Mooney
- Head Coach: Rachael Haynes
The men’s team triumphed in their first season of the IPL so the women will be looking to do the same this year in the WPL. They are owned by commodity trading business Adani Group. Beth Mooney – who has played 227 international T20 matches for Australia – will captain the side while fellow Australian Rachael Haynes will coach the side.
Mumbai Indians
- City: Mumbai
- Owners: Indiawin Sports
- Captain: Harmanpreet Kaur
- Head Coach: Rachael Haynes
The Mumbai Indians are one of the favourites for this year’s WPL and are owned by Indiawin Sports – a sports management company with ownership of a number of ‘Indian’ franchises. They are coached by ex-England cricketer Charlotte Edwards and are captained by Indian all-rounder Harmanpreet Kaur – the side also boast Nat Sciver-Brunt, who was paid the highest salary in English women’s cricket when she signed for the side.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
- City: Bangalore
- Owners: Diageo
- Captain: Smriti Mandhana
- Head Coach: Ben Sawyer
RCB are another of the sides who have a brother franchise in the IPL and they are owned by Diageo – an alcohol company headquartered in London. The side will be captained by Indian sensation Smriti Mandhana – who has scored 2,800 international T20 runs – and coached by Australian Ben Sawyer, who also coaches the New Zealand Women.
UP Warriorz
- City: Lucknow
- Owners: Capri Global
- Captain: Alyssa Healy
- Head Coach: Jon Lewis
The Warriorz are new to Indian domestic cricket and are owned by Capri Global, a non-banking financial company. The Lucknow based side will be captained by Australian Alyssa Healy – whose top score is 148 not out – and they’ll be coached by Brit Jon Lewis – who is the current England Women’s head coach.
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