Navi Mumbai: The 2026 edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) is set to begin, marking the first season since India’s historic maiden ODI World Cup win in November last year. The tournament will feature top Indian and international stars across five franchises, promising exciting cricket for fans across the country.
Key players in this edition include India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, ODI World Cup player of the series Deepti Sharma, Player of the Final Shafali Verma, South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt, and Australian veteran Meg Lanning.
The five teams competing in WPL 2026 are Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Giants, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, UP Warriorz, and Delhi Capitals. The tournament runs from January 9 to February 5. Mumbai Indians enter as defending champions, having defeated Delhi Capitals by eight runs in last year’s final. Royal Challengers Bengaluru had previously lifted their maiden WPL title in 2024 by beating Delhi Capitals.
𝗟𝗘𝗧. 𝗧𝗛𝗘. 𝗚𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗦. 𝗕𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗡. 🏆🥳
Drop your predictions for #TATAWPL 2026 ✍️#KhelEmotionKa | #MIvRCB pic.twitter.com/EKq2azMOnZ
— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) January 9, 2026
Captains for WPL 2026
- Mumbai Indians: Harmanpreet Kaur
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Smriti Mandhana
- Gujarat Giants: Ashleigh Gardner
- Delhi Capitals: Jemimah Rodrigues
- UP Warriorz: Meg Lanning
Notable Squads
- Mumbai Indians feature Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur, Amelia Kerr, Shabnim Ismail, Hayley Matthews, and others.
- Delhi Capitals’ squad includes Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Laura Wolvaardt, Marizanne Kapp, and Chinelle Henry.
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru field Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Nadine de Klerk, Lauren Bell, and Grace Harris.
- Gujarat Giants’ key players include Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine, and Renuka Singh.
- UP Warriorz feature Meg Lanning, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, Shweta Sehrawat, and Phoebe Litchfield.
5️⃣ Captains 🫡
1️⃣ Iconic Backdrop 🤩#TATAWPL 2026 Awaits ⏳#KhelEmotionKa pic.twitter.com/VuBw4PWDxY
— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) January 7, 2026
Venues and Schedule
The league will consist of 20 matches, with each team playing the others twice. At the end of the league stage, the second and third-placed teams will face off in the eliminator, with the winner taking on the league topper in the final.
The first 11 matches, including the opening game, will be held at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, while the remaining 11 matches will be played in Vadodara. Matches start at 7:30 PM IST, with the toss at 7 PM. On double-header days, the first match starts at 3:30 PM and the second at 7:30 PM. Double-header days are January 10 and 17.
The tournament opens on January 9 with defending champions Mumbai Indians facing Royal Challengers Bengaluru, bringing together two-time champions Harmanpreet Kaur and WPL 2024 champion Smriti Mandhana for a highly anticipated clash.
WPL 2026 promises a thrilling season with world-class talent, intense rivalries, and fans eagerly watching India’s stars shine on home soil.
