6-team Women's IPL likely to start from 2023, current franchises to get first call:

The BCCI is likely to stage a full-fledged Women's IPL starting 2023. The idea to conduct a full-fledged tournament for the women cricketers was discussed at BCCI's GC on Friday (March 25). As per sources, the present IPL teams will be given the first call to pick teams.

This year, the BCCI will again be conducting exhibition matches. The women's matches couldn't be staged in 2021 due to COVID-19. The BCCI had conducted one match in 2018 while 4 matches were played in 2019 and 2020.

Many women cricketers have backed the idea of conducting a full-fledged IPL and the league is likely to kick off next year. The tournament will be a six-team event.

The England Cricket Board and Cricket Australia have a full-fledged league for women cricketers. The Indian women cricketers have been part of CA's Women's Big



Bash League and ECB's The Hundred.

Top overseas players have plied their trade in BCCI's exhibition matches and their count is likely to increase from next year. This year's exhibition matches are likely to be played in Pune.

Meanwhile, the BCCI hasn't inked on the venue for the playoff matches of IPL 2022. The board will be staging the league phase of the tournament across 4 centres in Maharashtra from March 29 to May 22. 

The final of the tournament is scheduled to be played on May 29.

Chennai Super Kings will be playing the opening game of the tournament against Kolkata Knight Riders on March 26 at Wankhede Stadium. The iconic venue will be hosting 20 matches. DY Patil Stadium will also host 20 matches whereas Brabourne Stadium and MCA International Stadium will stage 15 matches each.