Thread by @KShriniwasRao

Hello people. Thanks to Ramiz Raja’s statement on PCB planning #women’s #T20 league in PSL, it got me thinking if the idea is a possibility in #IPL. Remember, all this talk of a league makes no sense if it can’t financially sustain. Here’s a #Thread on the subject... (1/25)

Can there be an IPL for women in the near future? Will there be enough following? Can it financially sustain? Can a revenue-stream be created? Does women’s cricket have a story to tell? Has any model been given a thought? So many questions, but few answers. (2/25)

It’s a matter that keeps getting debated on and off, and why BCCI hasn’t done much about it yet. But for now, let’s leave BCCI out of this – they have enough to do already. Let’s independently try and understand this space. Remember – feedback is welcome. (3/25)

A shocking stat: Cricket aside, of US$57 billion sponsorship doled out globally in 2020, less than $1b was invested in women’s sports. Industry says it is working on ‘diversification’, but clearly, more meaningful investments are needed & this world's still a male bastion. (4/25)

But today, we’ll restrict this only to cricket, specifically to whether it’s time to have an IPL for women. I know people in the industry – women cricketers included – who often find this debate too loud & sycophantic. But here’s a view: discussion always helps. (5/25)

A women’s IPL is seen as aspirational not just because it can offer riches. More importantly because it can offer a sense of belonging and respect. It will underline the overall essence of the subject – that women’s cricket matters and is here to stay. (6/25)

So let’s head further. What’s required to run a league, any league? 1) A good pool of players, coaches & support staff; 2) Efficient administration; 3) A revenue model (however big or small, but one that has a sound long-term plan, not fancy but equitable)… (contd); (7/25)

… 4) Good story-telling – because quality consumption is essential for the property to survive – both, in terms of broadcast & other effective mediums; 5) Short & long-term sponsors – who needn’t shell out ‘big money’. Just support more meaningfully (will explain). (8/25)

Let’s base it on these 5 points & look at them individually.
1) Good pool of players, coaches & support staff: Look at the 2020 Women’s T20 WC. 10 teams participated in what was a keenly contested event, so that’s a basic pool of 135 cricketers (minus India) globally… (9/25)

Now, add India's squad of 15 that played the World Cup and then look at the eight domestic tournaments BCCI conducts for women each domestic season. There's quite a bit of talent. Here’s what the schedule looks like for this year… (10/25)

A talent pool of 50 to 70 women cricketers from India alone (outside of national team) can generated. Add to that, 15 quality cricketers from each of the 9 other teams that played the World Cup (approx. total is 135). And we have a pool of around 200 cricketers ready. (11/25)

Coaches & support staff? Well, the BCCI itself has hired and sacked half a dozen women’s coaches in the last 10 years. So, get the point? There are enough professionals – in India and globally – waiting to be hired. (12/25)

2) An efficient administration: Well, let’s put it this way – basic constitution of BCCI, one that governs all cricket in India is essentially a strong one. I must admit, post Supreme Court ruling, administration has taken a beating but there’s still enough depth. (13/25)

3) Revenue model: This is the backbone. This has to be strong more than anything else (of course, after players). It must address the following points: a) allow players to earn, b) generate revenues to fund grassroot cricket, c) fill coffers from a futuristic perspective. (14/25)

Can it be possible? Depends on how one looks at it. If BCCI just brings sponsors, sells TV rights, works out a revenue distribution model, get additional sponsors – just the way IPL functions – it won’t work. Let’s be honest, women’s cricket is not lighting up TV screens. (15/25)

Initially, people will watch it for whatever novelty and then move on. Then who takes care of the baby? Many leagues have perished for lack of this very foresight. What women’s cricket needs is a bit of handholding right now, not the riches. (16/25)

Solution? I think answer lies in CSR (corporate social responsibility). In my previous threads, I have explained what revenues existing IPL franchises make each season. Of the net profit they make, 20% of top-line goes to BCCI, which is then routed to domestic cricket. (17/25)

BCCI uses that money to fund grassroot cricket. What if BCCI asked franchises to pay only 10% of that each season, and use the remaining 10% to fund their respective teams in women’s IPL? 20% of average top-line revenue per franchise in IPL is anywhere between 12 & 14 cr. (18/25)

That means, each franchise would be left with an avg of Rs 6 cr to invest in a women's team every yr. There can be graded / fixed salaries -- Rs 30 lac for 1 icon player, Rs 15 lac for 4 senior players, Rs 10 lac for remaining 6 players in the XI & Rs 5 lac for rest. (19/25)

In approx Rs 2 cr, salaries are taken care of. These salaries can be scaled up too (depending on what BCCI & franchises work out). Add further 2 cr to hiring of coaches and support staff, operations (travel, stay, etc). A franchise incurs total direct expenses of Rs 4 cr. (20/25)

In return, franchises can work on revenue flows through branding of men and women’s teams together. Apparel marketing (off-field branding can be huge from retail perspective), ticket sales (even if bare min), additional sponsors etc can add to revenue patterns. (21/25)

4) Story-telling: This is imp. Everybody loves a good story, regardless of medium. Women’s cricket too must have a story to tell. And that’s why, quality broadcast (even if they don’t bring revenues) is imp. Other forms of media must also cater. Eyeballs alone matter. (22/25)

5) Short & long-term sponsors: Every sport needs a benefactor. Women’s cricket must find one too. At start of this thread I explained, how lopsided the sponsorship industry is as of today. This link will help get an understanding: (23/25) sidlee.com/en/stories/202…

I’m sure, there can be other effective models too, on similar or different lines. But I strongly believe, the concept has to be based on CSR. Because – let’s be honest – we want women’s cricket to prosper and that cannot be based on any false set of assumptions. (24/25)

There are no free lunches in life. A league of such dimensions has to first understand how to survive and if floated as a business model, it simply can't. It needs an adoption-strategy at the beginning. Let it first survive. Later one can figure how it can thrive. (25/25)

Add: Ppl asking how women's Big Bash works. Cricket Australia allocates money for all domestic cricket. A certain % is allocated to women's cricket. Pay gap is huge. It's a retainership model, not business model. Here I'm talking of how a women's league can independently sustain.