The Women’s Premier League returns with a bang as WPL 2026 gets under way on January 9. With defending champions Mumbai Indians taking on Smriti Mandhana’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the opening game, fans can expect high drama, fresh leadership stories and plenty of star power across a compact, high-intensity month of cricket.
Dates, venues and tournament format
WPL 2026 runs from January 9 to February 5, featuring 22 matches in total (including the Eliminator and the Final). The competition is split across two venues:
- DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai — first leg (11 matches) through January 17
- BCA Stadium, Vadodara — remaining league matches, the Eliminator (February 3) and the Final (February 5)
The five teams play a double round-robin in the league stage (each side faces the others twice). The team finishing top after the league earns a direct spot in the final, while the second and third-placed teams contest the Eliminator for the remaining final slot. It’s a format that rewards consistency but still keeps late-season drama very much alive.
Key match dates to note
- Opening match: Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru — January 9, 7:30 PM IST (Navi Mumbai)
- First-leg wrap-up at DY Patil: January 17 (double-header day)
- Move to Vadodara for the remainder of the league: from January 19
- Eliminator: February 3, 7:30 PM IST (Vadodara)
- Final: February 5, 7:30 PM IST (Vadodara)
Teams, captains and leadership changes
This edition sees some notable captaincy reshuffles and a few high-profile absences shaping team narratives:
- Mumbai Indians retain Harmanpreet Kaur as captain as they aim to defend their crown.
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru will be led by Smriti Mandhana.
- Meg Lanning returns to captain UP Warriorz, a major development after last season’s changes.
- Jemimah Rodrigues has been handed the captaincy of Delhi Capitals.
- Ashleigh Gardner captains Gujarat Giants.
On the availability front, Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland have both declined to play this season for personal reasons. RCB replaced Perry in their squad, and Delhi brought in Alana King as cover. Several well-known names also went unsold or chose not to register for the auction, meaning fresh talent and evolving combinations will be central to many team plans.
Squads at a glance
Every team brings a mix of international experience and exciting Indian talent. Below is a concise look at each squad heading into WPL 2026.
Mumbai Indians
Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Matthews, Amelia Kerr, Shabnim Ismail, Nicola Carey, Amanjot Kaur, Sajana Sajeevan, Rahila Firdous, Poonam Khemnar, Triveni Vasistha, Nalla Reddy, Saika Ishaque, Milly Illingworth, Sanskriti Gupta.
Delhi Capitals
Jemimah Rodrigues (captain), Shafali Verma, Laura Wolvaardt, Marizanne Kapp, Alana King, Niki Prasad, Taniyaa Bhatia, Mamatha Madiwala, Nandni Sharma, Lucy Hamilton, Minnu Mani, Chinelle Henry, Shree Charani, Sneh Rana, Lizelle Lee, Deeya Yadav.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Smriti Mandhana (captain), Richa Ghosh, Sayali Satghare (replacement), Shreyanka Patil, Georgia Voll, Pooja Vastrakar, Grace Harris, Gautami Naik, Prathyoosha Kumar, D. Hemalatha, Nadine de Klerk, Radha Yadav, Lauren Bell, Linsey Smith, Prema Rawat, Arundhati Reddy.
Gujarat Giants
Ashleigh Gardner (captain), Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine, Renuka Singh Thakur, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Georgia Wareham, Yastika Bhatia, Titas Sadhu, Bharti Fulmali, Shivani Singh, Ayushi Soni, Kashee Gautam, Kanika Ahuja, Tanuja Kanwer, Anushka Sharma, Happy Kumari, Kim Garth.
UP Warriorz
Meg Lanning (captain), Sophie Ecclestone, Deepti Sharma, Phoebe Litchfield, Shweta Sehrawat, Kiran Navgire, Tara Norris, Chloe Tryon, Simran Shaikh, Suman Meena, G. Trisha, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Kranti Goud, Asha Sobhana, Deandra Dottin, Shikha Pandey, Shipra Giri.
How to watch WPL 2026
Broadcast and streaming partners for the tournament include:
- India: Star Sports and JioCinema (digital)
- Australia: Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports
- England: Sky Sports
- South Africa: SuperSport
- USA: Willow TV
What to expect this season
WPL 2026 promises to be compact but intense. With just five teams, every match carries weight and momentum swings can decide the final standings quickly. Expect established internationals to shoulder responsibility while a new wave of Indian talent looks to seize the spotlight. Leadership changes add an intriguing tactical layer, and the move from Navi Mumbai to Vadodara mid-tournament means pitches and conditions will play a role in shaping outcomes.
For fans of women’s cricket, the next four weeks offer a concentrated dose of quality T20 action — exciting matchups, tactical captains, and plenty of opportunities for newcomers to announce themselves on a big stage.