Women’s cricket returns to the spotlight as the fourth season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL 2026) gets underway in Navi Mumbai, just days after India’s historic ICC World Cup triumph lifted the mood of fans across the country.
The tournament opens with a blockbuster clash as defending champions Mumbai Indians face Royal Challengers Bengaluru, led by Smriti Mandhana.
With growing fan interest, leadership changes, and several high-profile overseas players missing, WPL 2026 is shaping up as a season of transition and opportunity rather than continuity.
The tournament will start from 9th January 2026 and will conclude on 5th February 2026.
5⃣ leaders 🫡
1⃣ stage 🙌The #TATAWPL captains are all set for an exciting season ahead 🔥
Catch the TATA WPL from January 9 on @StarSportsIndia and @JioHotstar 💻#KhelEmotionKa | @DelhiCapitals | @Giant_Cricket | @mipaltan | @RCBTweets | @UPWarriorz pic.twitter.com/AWpIM8ZwDQ
— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) January 6, 2026
WPL 2026 Live Streaming: When and Where to Watch in India
Fans can watch every match live across platforms.
- TV Broadcast: Star Sports Network
- Live Streaming: JioHotstar App and Website
- Time: 7:30 PM Every day
The wide digital reach ensures strong engagement, especially among younger audiences who form the backbone of WPL viewership.
WPL 2026 Venues
The tournament will be played across two venues:
- DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai
- Baroda Cricket Association Stadium, Vadodara
The WPL 2026 final will be played on February 5 in Vadodara, giving fans in Gujarat a chance to witness the season’s biggest match.
Limited venues mean less travel fatigue, which could help teams maintain consistency and reduce injury risks.
WPL 2026 Full Match Schedule
| Match | Date | Fixture | Venue | Time (IST) |
| 1 | Jan-09 | Mumbai Indians vs RCB | Navi Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 2 | Jan-10 | UP Warriorz vs Gujarat Giants | Navi Mumbai | 3:00 PM |
| 3 | Jan-10 | Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals | Navi Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 4 | Jan-11 | Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Giants | Navi Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 5 | Jan-12 | RCB vs UP Warriorz | Navi Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 6 | Jan-13 | Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Giants | Navi Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 7 | Jan-14 | UP Warriorz vs Delhi Capitals | Navi Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 8 | Jan-15 | Mumbai Indians vs UP Warriorz | Navi Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 9 | Jan-16 | RCB vs Gujarat Giants | Navi Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 10 | Jan-17 | UP Warriorz vs Mumbai Indians | Navi Mumbai | 3:00 PM |
| 11 | Jan-17 | Delhi Capitals vs RCB | Navi Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 12 | Jan-19 | Gujarat Giants vs RCB | Vadodara | 7:30 PM |
| 13 | Jan-20 | Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians | Vadodara | 7:30 PM |
| 14 | Jan-22 | Gujarat Giants vs UP Warriorz | Vadodara | 7:30 PM |
| 15 | Jan-24 | RCB vs Delhi Capitals | Vadodara | 7:30 PM |
| 16 | Jan-26 | RCB vs Mumbai Indians | Vadodara | 7:30 PM |
| 17 | Jan-27 | Gujarat Giants vs Delhi Capitals | Vadodara | 7:30 PM |
| 18 | Jan-29 | UP Warriorz vs RCB | Vadodara | 7:30 PM |
| 19 | Jan-30 | Gujarat Giants vs Mumbai Indians | Vadodara | 7:30 PM |
| 20 | Feb-01 | Delhi Capitals vs UP Warriorz | Vadodara | 7:30 PM |
| Eliminator | Feb-03 | Rank 2 vs Rank 3 | Vadodara | 7:30 PM |
| Final | Feb-05 | Rank 1 vs Winner (Eliminator) | Vadodara | 7:30 PM |
WPL 2026 Opening Match: Mumbai Indians vs RCB
Mumbai Indians enter the season as favourites after winning the previous edition, backed by a balanced squad featuring Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Matthews, and Amelia Kerr. Their opening opponent, RCB, however, will look to challenge that dominance under Mandhana’s leadership, despite missing a key star.
The opening fixture is expected to draw massive viewership, marking the start of a compact yet competitive tournament spread across two venues.
WPL 2026: Who are the New Captains?
One of the biggest talking points this season is the captaincy reshuffle across franchises. Delhi Capitals, three-time runners-up, have entered a new phase after releasing Meg Lanning last year. The franchise has handed leadership duties to Jemimah Rodrigues, signaling trust in young Indian leadership.
Meanwhile, UP Warriorz have gone the opposite route by appointing Meg Lanning as captain, replacing Deepti Sharma. The move brings experience and tactical depth to a side aiming to improve consistency.
These leadership changes reflect a broader WPL trend; teams are now building long-term identities rather than relying only on overseas stars.
WPL 2026: Big Players Missing; Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland Miss Out
Despite strong squads, WPL 2026 will miss some star power. Ellyse Perry (RCB) and Annabel Sutherland (Delhi Capitals) have opted out of the season due to personal reasons.
Their absence could significantly impact team balance, especially for RCB, who rely heavily on Perry’s all-around abilities. For the Delhi Capitals, the lack of Sutherland adds pressure on Indian players to step up in key moments.
This opens doors for young domestic players to take center stage and redefine team combinations.
WPL 2026: Full Updated Squads
- Mumbai Indians: Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Matthews, Amanjot Kaur, G. Kamalini, Amelia Kerr, Shabnim Ismail, Sanskriti Gupta, Sajana Sajeevan, Rahila Firdous, Nicola Carey, Poonam Khemnar, Triveni Vasistha, Nalla Reddy, Saika Ishaque, Milly Illingworth
- Delhi Capitals: Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Annabel Sutherland, Marzianne Kapp, Niki Prasad, Laura Wolvaardt, Chinelle Henry, Shree Charani, Sneh Rana, Lizelle Lee, Deeya Yadav, Taniyaa Bhatia, Mamatha Madiwala, Nandni Sharma, Lucy Hamilton, Minnu Mani
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Ellyse Perry, Shreyanka Patil, Georgia Voll, Nadine de Klerk, Radha Yadav, Lauren Bell, Linsey Smith, Prema Rawat, Arundhati Reddy, Pooja Vastrakar, Grace Harris, Gautami Naik, Prathyoosha Kumar, D. Hemalatha
- Gujarat Giants: Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine, Renuka Singh Thakur, Bharti Fulmali, Titas Sadhu, Kashee Gautam, Kanika Ahuja, Tanuja Kanwer, Georgia Wareham, Anushka Sharma, Happy Kumari, Kim Garth, Yastika Bhatia, Shivani Singh, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Ayushi Soni
- UP Warriorz: Shweta Sehrawat, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield, Kiran Navgire, Harleen Deol, Kranti Goud, Asha Sobhana, Deandra Dottin, Shikha Pandey, Shipra Giri, Simran Shaikh, Tara Norris, Chloe Tryon, Suman Meena, G. Trisha, Pratika Rawal
WPL 2026: Test of Indian Leadership Depth
Unlike previous seasons dominated by overseas stars, WPL 2026 places Indian players at the heart of leadership, decision-making, and match outcomes. With Indian captains leading four franchises and top domestic players filling crucial roles, this season could redefine how women’s franchise cricket evolves in India.
As the league grows, WPL 2026 may prove to be less about star power and more about structure, depth, and the future of Indian women’s cricket.
