The Women’s Premier League began in 2023 and quickly became a game-changer for women’s cricket in India. Each WPL team gets its strength from powerful business groups, successful entrepreneurs, or major corporations that run the show. Their investment, strategic thinking, and long-term vision shape each franchise’s future.
Fast forward to 2025, and the Mumbai Indians did it again. They grabbed their second WPL trophy by defeating Delhi Capitals in the final. The league has grown into a global platform for women’s cricket, attracting top talent from around the world.
The franchise auction back in January 2023 created history. The BCCI sold five team rights for a combined total of Rs 4,669.99 crore. This showed that investors now take women’s cricket seriously. Let’s dive into who owns each WPL team and what they bring to the table.
List Of WPL Team Owners: Quick Overview (2026)
Here is a list of all the people and companies that own WPL teams. This table provides a snapshot of each franchise owner’s ownership, purchase prices, and net worth.
| Team Name | Owners | Owners’ Company | Purchase Price | Net Worth (USD) | Net Worth (INR Crore) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai Indians | Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani | Reliance Industries | Rs 912.99 crore | $112.8 billion | Rs 9,40,000 crore |
| Gujarat Giants | Gautam Adani | Adani Sportsline | Rs 1,289 crore | $70 billion | Rs 5,83,000 crore |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Diageo (United Spirits) | United Spirits Ltd | Rs 901 crore | $11.95 billion | Rs 98,891 crore |
| Delhi Capitals | Parth Jindal, Kiran Kumar Grandhi | JSW Group, GMR Group | Rs 910 crore | $7.68B + $1.7B | Rs 78,000 crore (combined) |
| UP Warriorz | Rajesh Sharma | Capri Global Holdings | Rs 757 crore | Rs 4,173 crore (company) | Rs 4,173 crore |
This table lists the WPL team owners, their companies, purchase prices, and their net worth. Some teams share ownership with their IPL counterparts, while others entered cricket for the first time through the WPL.
1. Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians jumped into the WPL with a winning bid of Rs 912.99 crore in January 2023. Indiawin Sports Private Limited, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, owns the franchise. Mukesh Ambani, India’s richest man, leads Reliance Industries. His wife, Nita Ambani, and son, Akash Ambani, actively manage the team’s operations.
The team wasted no time making history. They won the inaugural WPL title in 2023 and grabbed their second trophy in 2025 under captain Harmanpreet Kaur. Lisa Keightley took over as head coach in September 2025 after Charlotte Edwards moved to coach the England team.
What makes the Mumbai Indians special is their deep pockets and global vision. The Ambanis already run the five-time IPL champion men’s team and have expanded to MI Emirates, MI New York, and other international franchises. They bring the same winning mentality and resource strength to the women’s side. Nat Sciver-Brunt and Amelia Kerr won the Orange Cap and Purple Cap in 2025, proving the team’s ability to attract and develop world-class talent.
2. Gujarat Giants
Gujarat Giants made the biggest splash at the WPL franchise auction. Adani Sportsline, part of the Adani Group, paid a whopping Rs 1,289 crore for the Ahmedabad-based franchise. This was the highest bid for any WPL team.
Gautam Adani, the founder and chairman of the Adani Group, is the second-richest person in India. His net worth hovers around $70 billion. The Adani Group already runs similar franchises in other sports leagues, including the Gujarat Giants kabaddi team, so this was a natural expansion.
The team is based in Vadodara, Gujarat, and is captained by Ashleigh Gardner. Michael Klinger took over as head coach in February 2024. The Giants have shown fighting spirit, though they haven’t yet lifted the trophy. Key players like Beth Mooney and Gardner form the core leadership. The franchise went through a major squad overhaul at the November 2025 Mega Auction, retaining only Gardner and Mooney while bringing in Sophie Devine and Renuka Singh.
3. Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Royal Challengers Bengaluru is currently for sale. Royal Challengers Bengaluru entered the WPL with a bid of Rs 901 crore. United Spirits Limited, owned by British drinks giant Diageo, runs the franchise. They operate through their subsidiary, Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited, which also manages the men’s RCB team in the IPL.
RCB Women made their mark early by signing Smriti Mandhana for Rs 3.40 crore at the inaugural WPL auction. She became the most expensive player in WPL history. Mandhana leads the team as captain and has been instrumental in their success. The team won the WPL title in 2024 under her leadership.
The franchise benefits from a massive fan base that follows both the men’s and women’s teams. While Diageo’s parent company valuation sits at around $11.95 billion, RCB’s brand power goes beyond the numbers. The team plays home matches in Bengaluru and draws passionate crowds. Key overseas signings, such as Charlie Dean, have strengthened their squad ahead of the 2026 season.
4. Delhi Capitals
Delhi Capitals joined the WPL, one of three IPL teams to expand into women’s cricket. JSW GMR Cricket Private Limited owns the franchise through a 50-50 joint venture between JSW Sports and GMR Sports Private Limited. The team was acquired for approximately Rs 910 crore.
Parth Jindal, Director of JSW Sports, and Kiran Kumar Grandhi, Corporate Chairman of GMR Group, serve as co-owners. Both bring vast experience from running the men’s Delhi Capitals team since 2008. The two groups have a rotational management agreement. JSW Sports handles the women’s team operations for 2025-2026, while GMR manages the men’s side.
Delhi Capitals have shown remarkable consistency, reaching the final in all three WPL editions (2023, 2024, 2025). However, they fell short each time as runners-up. Jemimah Rodrigues was appointed captain ahead of the 2026 season after her stellar performance in India’s Women’s World Cup triumph. Shafali Verma remains a key player for the franchise. The team’s hunt for their maiden WPL trophy continues.
5. UP Warriorz
UP Warriorz represents the only new entrant into cricket franchise ownership through the WPL. Capri Global Holdings Private Limited won the Lucknow-based franchise with a bid of Rs 757 crore. This was the lowest bid among all five teams, but it still showed serious commitment to women’s cricket.
Rajesh Sharma & Jinisha Sharma, founders of Capri Global, serve as the managing directors. They built Capri Global from scratch into a major non-banking financial company (NBFC). As of March 2025, Capri Global reported a tangible net worth of Rs 4,173 crore and consolidated assets under management of Rs 22,860 crore.
The team plays home matches at Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Australian legend Meg Lanning captains the side, while Abhishek Nayar serves as head coach. UP Warriorz made a splash at the WPL 2026 mega auction by acquiring Deepti Sharma for Rs 3.20 crore. She became the most expensive player of that auction. Sophie Ecclestone adds world-class spin bowling to their lineup. The franchise aims to break into the playoffs and challenge for the title.
The Power Behind WPL: How Ownership Shapes Women’s Cricket
The Women’s Premier League thrives on more than just exciting cricket; it’s powered by influential team owners whose investment and vision drive the sport forward.
With a combined franchise value of Rs 4,669.99 crore at launch, the WPL has become the world’s second-most valuable women’s sports league. Media rights alone brought in Rs 951 crore over five years.
India’s top business leaders, from Mukesh Ambani to Gautam Adani, back these teams, bringing not just financial strength but professional management, global networks, and winning cultures.
Their commitment is transforming women’s cricket into a premier sport with millions of viewers and major sponsors. As the WPL heads into its 2026 season, these owners remain central to building a thriving future for the league.
Related Reads:
FAQs
Mukesh Ambani (Mumbai Indians) has seen the most success. His team has won two out of three WPL titles (2023 and 2025).
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) owns and operates the WPL. Individual teams are owned by separate business entities.
Mukesh Ambani, owner of the Mumbai Indians, is the wealthiest WPL team owner. As of December 2025, his net worth stands at approximately $112.8 billion, making him Asia’s richest person.
Gujarat Giants were bought by Adani Sportsline for Rs 1,289 crore, making it the most expensive WPL franchise at the auction.
Smriti Mandhana holds the record as the most expensive WPL player. Royal Challengers Bengaluru signed her for Rs 3.40 crore at the inaugural auction in 2023
