The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has revealed that Bengaluru and Delhi are the shortlisted venues for the upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL 2024), marking a strategic decision for the tournament’s second season.
Scheduled between February 22 and March 17, the Women’s Premier League’s tentative window is set to accommodate the cricketing extravaganza. Bengaluru will host the first leg of the WPL 2024, featuring initial matches played by the five participating teams. Subsequently, Delhi will take charge as the host city for the second leg, including the knockout stage matches.
One of the key rationales behind splitting the tournament across two venues is to maintain pitch freshness for the impending 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL), scheduled to commence on March 22. The WPL 2024, with its five-team format, is set to offer cricket enthusiasts a total of 22 thrilling matches.
In a departure from the inaugural WPL held exclusively in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai in 2023, BCCI initially contemplated hosting the 2024 edition in a single state to mitigate logistical challenges. However, the final decision favored two venues – Bengaluru and Delhi.
Both cities will witness a unique schedule, as matches will unfold consecutively over 10 days at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru and the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. This scheduling strategy is an unconventional approach, deviating from the usual IPL and WPL schedules that rarely see consecutive matches at the same venue for more than two days.
The Mumbai Indians, as defending champions, will aim to replicate their success in the inaugural season when they emerged victorious by defeating Delhi Capitals in the final last year. As the countdown to WPL 2024 begins, cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the spectacle that promises to showcase top-notch talent in the women’s cricketing arena.
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