Big news just dropped for women’s cricket in India. Chennai Super Kings will enter the Women’s Premier League soon. CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan confirmed this exciting news at a public event.
The announcement came during the Invest in Tamil Nadu conclave recently. Viswanathan didn’t sugarcoat anything about the timeline. He said expansion won’t happen immediately but will come in the coming years.
Women’s cricket becomes CSK’s first priority for future expansion plans. They might explore other sports later down the road too. CSK to Enter in WPL marks a massive shift for the franchise.
Why This News Matters
Chennai Super Kings stayed away from WPL for four whole seasons. That surprised many cricket fans, given their massive IPL success. Other big franchises also skipped women’s cricket initially like them.
Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, KKR, and SRH don’t have WPL teams yet. The Women’s Premier League currently runs with just five teams. Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh host those teams.
CSK to Enter in WPL changes the entire conversation around women’s cricket. One of India’s most popular franchises backing women’s game helps enormously. Their involvement brings credibility and serious investment to the league.
“Not immediately, but certainly in the coming years, CSK will expand its footprint. Our first target will be women’s cricket. We may also go into other sports over time,” Viswanathan said.
WPL Expansion Looks Likely
Delhi Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal dropped hints about league expansion. He spoke openly during the 2025 WPL auction about adding teams. BCCI is seriously planning to bring new franchises into the mix.
Jindal wants the WPL to shift from caravan format to home-and-away. Currently, the tournament happens at just two or three venues. That limited setup restricts growth and fan engagement massively right now.
Home-and-away format suits cricket leagues much better than caravan style. Fans deserve to watch their local teams play at nearby grounds regularly. The short cycle between two WPLs in 14 months confirms expansion planning.
Future Looks Bright
Jindal believes one or two new teams will join soon definitely. The BCCI planning process already started behind closed doors apparently. Women’s cricket deserves a bigger investment from established cricket franchises badly.
The WPL 2026 season wraps up with the final on February 5. After that, expansion discussions will likely take center stage immediately. CSK’s eventual joining validates women’s cricket as a serious business venture.
