Mumbai: JioStar, the official digital and broadcast partner of the Women’s Premier League, announced that the 2026 season set multiple new benchmarks in reach and engagement, emerging as the most-viewed edition since the league’s inception.
As Royal Challengers Bengaluru lifted the TATA WPL trophy for the second time on February 5, the 2026 season recorded a 17% growth in digital reach over the 2025 edition, while overall digital consumption surged 69%. Across all screens, viewers consumed a record 34.5 billion minutes of league action, reflecting an 11% increase year-on-year.
On Connected TV, reach grew by 37% compared to the previous season. The 2026 final delivered 2x the reach of the 2025 summit clash between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals.
The season also concluded as the highest-rated on linear television since the league began, with ratings rising 29% over the last edition. The final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals became the most-watched women’s T20 match ever across all screens, recording a 60% year-on-year increase in consumption. On digital platforms, the final’s reach doubled, while TVR on linear television increased by 74%.
“We are witnessing a transformational shift in the women events, a momentum that has transitioned from a seasonal peak into a sustained market powerhouse. While the record-breaking engagement during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 confirmed that the sport has truly arrived, the TATA WPL 2026 season has effectively taken the growth of women’s cricket to next level,” said Anup Govindan, Head – Sales, Sports, JioStar. “The WPL has successfully carved out a distinct market position, proving that women’s cricket is a premier standalone asset. As we look toward the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup later this year, we see a discerning fan base that isn’t just watching, they are actively invested in the continued expansion of the game.”
Women’s cricket will return to global centre stage this June as Harmanpreet Kaur leads India to England and Wales for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, with the team chasing its first T20 world title. The reigning ODI champions are currently touring Australia for a multi-format series comprising three T20Is, three ODIs and one Test match.
The record-breaking TATA WPL 2026 season underscores the accelerating commercial and audience momentum behind women’s cricket, reinforcing its position as a standalone, high-growth sports property across digital and television platforms.
