The Indian Women’s Premier League (WPL) and the Australian Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) are the most highly rated women’s cricket leagues in the world. Many fans and analysts believe that the WPL, even though it only launched in 2023, about eight years after the WBBL, now owns the top spot as far as women’s domestic cricket is concerned. On the other hand, others think the WBBL, which has been around since 2015, deserves that crown.
In this article, we’ll take a close look at both leagues, comparing them in terms of competitiveness, viewership, popularity, and financial power.
Competitiveness and Player Quality
When it comes to quality players, performances, and competitiveness, both the WPL and WBBL have plenty to offer. However, each league has its own flavor. Let’s break it down.
WPL
The WPL, though only launched in 2023, made an immediate impact by attracting some of the biggest names in women’s cricket. The league houses a dazzling mix of talent, which, as you would have expected, includes some of India’s finest players like 2023 Wisden Cricketer of the Year, Harmanpreet Kaur, 21-year-old young star Shafali Verma, and Richa Ghosh, another young sensation. Global cricket stars like English All-rounder, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Australian Top-order batter, Meg Lanning, and fellow Australian international, Tahila McGrath.
The auction format used in the WPL usually ensures that every team has a chance to build a strong, competitive squad. This meant that no franchise could be overlooked as an easy underdog, and every match is usually a battle.
In terms of performance, the Mumbai Indians won the inaugural title in 2023 and the most recent edition of the competition in 2025. Meanwhile, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the title in 2024. English international Nat Sciver-Brunt currently leads the run charts with over 1,100 runs, while New Zealand All-rounder Amelia Kerr has been the top wicket-taker with 45 scalps.
WBBL
Since the launch in 2015, the WBBL has hosted some of Australia’s best talents, including two-time Wisden Leading Woman Cricketer in the World Beth Mooney, ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Decade Ellyse Perry, and Alyssa Healy, a two-time ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year. The league has also attracted top international players, such as New Zealand all-rounder Sophie Devine and English international Danni Wyatt.
In the 11 seasons played so far, the WBBL has had six different champions. The Sydney Sixers, Sydney Thunder, Brisbane Heat, and Adelaide Strikers have each won the title twice. The Perth Scorchers, Melbourne Renegades, and the current champions, Hobart Hurricanes, have each won the title once.
In terms of stats, left-handed batter and wicket keeper, Beth Mooney leads the league with an astonishing 5,600 runs, while fellow Australian international, Jess Jonassen, leads in wickets with 184.
Viewership and Popularity
Both leagues are hugely popular. However, while the WBBL has grown steadily in popularity over the years, the WPL’s surge has been alarming.
WPL
The WPL took off far quicker than anyone expected. In its inaugural season, the league attracted around 50 million viewers across TV and digital platforms within the first 14 games. By the end of that season, a total of 152 million views was recorded.
Since then, the league has kept expanding in popularity. Within the first 15 games of its most recent edition in 2025, 103 million people watched. And by the end of the season, it reached an astounding 325 million views, more than twice the 2023 total.
Some people argue that the WPL leverages the IPL’s already established popularity and global appeal. This is because it was established as the women’s version of the IPL. And since the men’s league already dominates viewership charts and even betting activity across every major IPL betting site, the WPL easily benefited from the existing audience and global interest.
WBBL
The WBBL may not match the WPL in audience size. However, it’s still one of Australia’s most-watched domestic competitions. The league has also seen growth in viewership over the years, but at a steady rate. In the 2023/24 season, the tournament recorded its highest viewership in recent years, with nearly 10 million TV viewers across Australia and millions more tuning in via digital platforms.
Financial Power
Financial power is one area where the contrast between the WPL and WBBL is especially clear. Both leagues are financially healthy, but they operate on very different scales.
WPL
From a financial standpoint, the WPL is in a league of its own. Even before a ball was bowled, the competition announced that its media rights were sold for ₹951 crore to Viacom18 for five years. That figure surpassed Australia’s men’s Big Bash League deal.
The financial muscle of the WPL is also shown in its players’ salaries. In the first season auction in 2023, Smriti Mandhana, the vice-captain of the Indian women’s national team, became the highest-paid player with a ₹3.4 crore deal. Other hefty salary packages include Harmanpreet Kaur’s ₹1.8 crore deal. However, average salaries in the league typically range from ₹40 to ₹ 80 lakhs, which, for many players, is still three to four times higher than what they earn in other domestic leagues.
WBBL
In terms of finances, the WBBL is not anywhere near the WPL’s level. However, it’s still a strong and stable competition in its own right. Top WBBL stars earn around AUD 100,000 (roughly ₹55 lakhs), while average salaries generally fall between AUD 25,000 and 60,000.
The league enjoys long-standing partnerships with well-established brands such as KFC and Weber. It also consistently receives broadcast support from major Australian networks such as Channel 7 and Fox Cricket.
Conclusion
India is more or less the heartbeat of modern cricket, so it’s not surprising that the world’s most powerful women’s T20 league, the WPL, is based there. The Australian WBBL is, however, also a top-rated cricket league in its own right. It may not match the WPL’s financial firepower, popularity, and viewership, but it stands out for consistency, depth, and long-term player development.
