Indian cricket fraternity reacts as media rights for women's IPL sold for Rs 951 crore

Former Team India batter Mithali Raj and current star batter Smriti Mandhana took to ir official social media accounts to explain why y believe that Women's Indian Premier League (WIPL) will be a 'game-changer' in women's cricket after media rights for WIPL were sold for a whopping Rs 951 crores.

'Every Indian women's cricketer will remember today': Mandhana

Taking to Twitter, Harmanpreet Singh and Smriti Mandhana explained how January 16 will be a day that every Indian women's cricketer will remember after media rights for WIPL were sold for a huge amount. She went on to thank Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and its secretary, Jay Shah, for ir contributions towards same.

Similarly, former Team India captain Mithali Raj added that women's IPL will be a 'game-changer' for cricket and that sale of media rights represents a 'significant milestone.'

Or cricket legends like Jhulan Goswami and VVS Laxman also reacted to news as y called it a 'huge shot in arm for women's cricket in India'.

WIPL media rights sold to Viacom18

Viacom18 secured Women's IPL media rights value for 2023-2027 cycle for a whopping Rs 951 crore which means per match value of INR 7.09 crore for next 5 years. BCCI will unveil five WIPL franchises on January 25. news was confirmed by BCCI secretary Jay Shah via his official Twitter account on Monday.

WIPL is a huge step forward from Women's T20 Challenge which was previously held as an exhibition tournament. = WIPL's first season's opening match is scheduled for March. BCCI has t officially released tournament's schedule, but it is widely believed that first season, which would consist of 22 matches, will take place between March 5 and March 23.

Uncapped cricketers have been given two alternatives, while players with caps -- those who have represented India or are currently on a central contract -- can select eir Rs. 30 lakhs, Rs. 40 lakhs, or Rs. 50 lakhs as ir base pricing (Rs. 10 lakhs and Rs. 20 lakhs). Prior to WIPL, base price was separated into five categories, ranging from Rs. 10 lakhs to Rs. 50 lakhs. auction's registration cutoff date is January 26. 

(Inputs from ANI)