The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026, the fourth edition of India’s premier women’s T20 franchise cricket league, is currently underway and delivering high-octane action right from the start!
Organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the tournament runs from January 9 to February 5, 2026, featuring the five familiar franchises: Mumbai Indians Women (MI-W) (defending champions), Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (RCB-W), Delhi Capitals Women (DC-W), Gujarat Giants Women (GG-W), and UP Warriorz Women (UPW-W).
This season follows a blockbuster mega auction held on November 27, 2025, in New Delhi, where teams revamped their squads significantly. Big-money moves included strategic retentions, Right-to-Match (RTM) usages, and bold picks of international stars and emerging Indian talent.
Thrilling Opening Night Drama
The tournament kicked off with a blockbuster clash between Mumbai Indians Women (led by Harmanpreet Kaur) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (captained by Smriti Mandhana) at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.
MI-W posted a competitive 154/6, but RCB-W pulled off a sensational last-ball thriller, chasing it down with 157/7 in 20 overs — winning by 3 wickets! South African all-rounder Nadine de Klerk stole the show in the final over, smashing 6-4-6-4 under massive pressure to seal a historic finish.
Here are some electrifying highlights from that nail-biting finish:
De Klerk’s heroics not only handed RCB the win but also propelled them to the top of the early points table with 2 points!
Current Standings (After Match 1)
- RCB-W: 1 match, 1 win, 2 points
- MI-W: 1 match, 1 loss, 0 points
- Others yet to play
Key Storylines This Season
- All squads got major overhauls post-auction — expect fresh rivalries and new combinations.
- The first leg (until January 17) is at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, before shifting to Baroda for the latter stages, including the final.
- Star power is everywhere: Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Meg Lanning (now captaining UPW), Jemimah Rodrigues (DC), Ashleigh Gardner (GG), and many more global talents.
Upcoming Action (Double-Header on January 10)
- Gujarat Giants Women vs UP Warriorz Women — Afternoon clash
- Mumbai Indians Women vs Delhi Capitals Women — Evening blockbuster
Catch all the live action on Star Sports Network (TV) and JioHotstar (streaming) in India.
The WPL continues to grow as a global powerhouse for women’s cricket — what a way to start 2026!
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