Women's T20 Challenge (India) 2022/23

The Women's T20 Challenge was a domestic Twenty20 cricket tournament in India, organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). It operated intermittently between 2018 and 2022 before being permanently discontinued. The competition served as a developmental platform, evolving from a single match format into a three-team franchise-style event. The tournament featured three fixed teams: Supernovas, Trailblazers, and Velocity. These squads were not based on traditional state associations but were managed by franchise owners who also controlled men's Indian Premier League (IPL) teams. The structure was straightforward, comprising a round-robin group stage where each team played two matches, followed by a single final between the top two sides. Each edition consisted of only four matches in total. Supernovas were the most successful side, winning the title in 2018, 2019, and 2022. Trailblazers secured victory in the 2020 edition. The competition was cancelled in 2021 due to logistical challenges and the pandemic. The tournament acted as a direct precursor to the Women's Premier League (WPL), which launched in 2023. The three teams effectively transitioned into WPL franchises: Supernovas became Mumbai Indians Women, Trailblazers became UP Warriorz, and Velocity became Gujarat Giants. A key distinction remained that the Challenge was a shorter-format, three-team domestic competition without international players or the full franchise infrastructure of the WPL. While the WPL introduced city-based franchises and international stars, the Challenge focused on a tighter, invitational structure. The BCCI utilized this period to refine its domestic women's cricket pathway before expanding into a global league format.