WPL 2025: Women's Premier League Finds Hosts for This Edition? - Report

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The much-anticipated third edition of the Women's Premier League (WPL) will be held in two phases. According to Cricbuzz, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has chosen Baroda and Lucknow as the venues for the tournament which is expected to start on February 6 or 7.

The first phase will be hosted in Lucknow and the second phase, including the final, will take place in Baroda. The BCCI has held informal discussions with both the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) and the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA), although an official announcement is still pending.

Baroda's Kotambi Stadium May Host Final

Baroda, which has recently upgraded its Kotambi Stadium to international standards, will be the venue for the WPL's final, slated for March 8 or 9. This venue made its debut hosting international cricket in December 2024.

It's first event was when India's women's team defeated the West Indies in a three-match ODI series. Following its inauguration, the stadium also hosted senior Women's T20 matches and some Ranji Trophy games.

The BCA is eager to showcase the stadium's capabilities, having already been allocated the semifinals and final of the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, which will be held under lights in January to fine-tune the venue's readiness.

"Baroda has made significant strides in its infrastructure, and the BCCI is confident that the Kotambi Stadium will provide a fitting backdrop for the WPL final," an official told Website 2. While the exact dates and schedule for the event are yet to be confirmed, the phase-wise approach aims to give sufficient time for the final preparations of the Baroda venue.

Lucknow Could Host First Phase

The Uttar Pradesh capital, Lucknow, will host the initial phase of the WPL 2025, offering an exciting start to the tournament. Though the complete schedule remains under wraps, sources indicate that the BCCI is working closely with the UPCA to finalize the arrangements.

In 2023, the inaugural season of the WPL was hosted entirely in Mumbai, while Bengaluru and Delhi shared the second edition of the event. The WPL 2025 will be pivotal with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru looking to retain their title after a dominant campaign in 2024.