Women’s cricket in Nashik is on the cusp of a landmark moment. The Nashik District Cricket Association (NDCA) unveiled the trophy for the inaugural Nashik Women’s Premier League (NWPL) in a grand ceremony, signaling the start of what promises to be a transformative chapter for grassroots women’s cricket in the region.
The tournament, presented by Fravashi International Academy, will be held from April 25 to May 1. Five teams will compete across 13 matches, with the action building towards semi-finals and a final to crown the inaugural champions.
The trophy unveiling event drew a constellation of officials and dignitaries. District Sports Officer Avinash Tile, District Collector Ayush Prasad, NDCA Chairman Vinod Shah, and Secretary Sameer Rakate were among those present. Speakers at the event underscored the importance of creating structured opportunities for women athletes at the district level.
The journey to matchday began weeks earlier with a rigorous player auction. Held on April 14, the auction saw 91 players go under the hammer, of which 75 were successfully picked by franchises across four categories, Icon, Category A, Category B, and Emerging Players.
The bidding witnessed fierce competition among franchises, particularly for all-rounders and wicketkeeper-batters. Pallavi Bodke emerged as the highest-valued player, earning 28,000 points before being signed by Balaji Super Novas.
The five competing teams are Balaji Super Novas, Sangale Strikers, Maratha Warriors, Jijamata Squad, and The Rising Stars. Each side was built around an icon player, Tejaswini Batwal (Balaji Super Novas), Rasika Shinde (Maratha Warriors), Shalmali Kshatriya (Sangale Strikers), Ishwari Savkar (The Rising Stars), and Dnyanada Nikam (Jijamata Squad).
At the ceremony, team jerseys were also showcased, adding to the festive atmosphere. Organizers expressed confidence that the NWPL will serve as a vital stepping stone for talented cricketers from Nashik and surrounding areas, helping them gain exposure in a professional franchise-based environment.
With preparations complete and squads finalized, all eyes are now on April 25, when the NWPL will bowl off its first chapter in the history of women’s cricket in Nashik.
