Mumbai, Jan 10 (.) The fourth edition of the ‘Women’s Premier League’ (WPL) began in grand style at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, with dazzling performances from stars of the film and music industries adding glamour to the opening ceremony.
Rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh was among the headline acts, setting the mood with his popular hits such as ‘Lungi Dance, Blue Eyes, and Millionaire’. His entry was particularly striking, as he kicked off his performance from the dugout, seated alongside India’s World Cup-winning stars, captain Harmanpreet Kaur and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana.
The moment created an iconic visual, with the ‘Bluetooth era’ rap sensation sharing the frame with two legends of Indian women’s cricket, who are now rivals in the league while leading Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru respectively.
Actress Jacqueline Fernandez also entertained the crowd, dancing to her chart-topping numbers.
This year’s WPL holds special significance. Beyond marking the tournament’s fourth season and its growing popularity, it is also the first edition since India ended their World Cup drought, defeating South Africa in the final last November.
With the Women’s T20 World Cup scheduled later this year in England and Wales, the WPL will provide crucial match exposure for both seasoned players and emerging talents as India targets a rare double of 50-over and T20 World Cup titles.
The opening match features defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Navi Mumbai, the same venue where India created history last year.
Once united in celebration of World Cup glory, Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana now face off as captains in one of the league’s biggest marquee clashes.
. MI .