Taking forward their commitment in supporting sports for women and expanding the MI #OneFamily, Mumbai Indians on Wednesday announced the addition of a very special franchise -- a women’s cricket team in the first-ever Women’s Premier League (WPL) scheduled for March 2023.
This makes MI’s women’s team the fourth MI franchise after Mumbai Indians, MI Cape Town and MI Emirates.
Mumbai Indians won the bid for the Mumbai city franchise. The Paltan will now have their own women’s side, to cheer and celebrate the same way they have supported MI for the last 15 years making them the most successful franchise in Indian Premier League (IPL).
The newly introduced WPL is set to be a game changer for not only women’s cricket in India and across the globe but also for the women sportspersons in general.
Speaking on the occasion, Nita Ambani said, “With great joy and pride, I welcome our women’s cricket team to the MI #OneFamily! This is a historic moment for Indian cricket, and we are delighted to be a part of it. India’s women cricketers have always made the nation proud in the global sporting arena – be it World Cup, Asian Cup or the recent Commonwealth Games! This new Women’s League will once again shine a global spotlight on the talent, power and potential of our girls. I’m sure our Women’s MI team will take the Mumbai Indians brand of fearless and entertaining cricket to a new level altogether. My heartiest congratulations to BCCI on this landmark announcement! It will pave the way for more and more young women to take up professional sport. At Reliance, we remain committed to the glorious rise of women not just in cricket, but sport in general.”
Welcoming the women's team, Akash Ambani said on the occasion, “I am happy to extend a warm welcome to our women's cricket team, the fourth franchise to join the Mumbai Indians family. The launch of the Women's Premier League is a historic moment and I'm proud that India is at the forefront of this change. I eagerly look forward to the upcoming season and am confident that the WPL will have a lasting impact on the empowerment of women in sports. As we bring the MI experience and best practices into the women’s game, we look forward to seeing our women's team excel and inspire future generations of female athletes."
