The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 is set to begin on January 9, with defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) taking on 2024 winners Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the tournament opener in Navi Mumbai. The BCCI released the full schedule for the fourth edition of the league on Saturday, confirming a total of 22 matches, including the Eliminator and the Final.
Two Venues, 22 Matches
The first phase of the tournament – from January 9 to 17- will be played in Navi Mumbai, hosting 11 matches. The action then shifts to Vadodara, which will stage the remaining 11 games, including the Eliminator on February 3 and the WPL 2026 Final on February 5.
WPL 2026 Format
The league format remains unchanged from previous editions:
Five teams: Mumbai Indians (MI), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Delhi Capitals (DC), Gujarat Giants (GG), and UP Warriorz (UPW).
Each team plays two matches against every other team.
The top-ranked team after the league stage enters the final directly.
The second- and third-placed teams compete in the Eliminator for the remaining final spot.
The league stage concludes on February 1.
Only two afternoon games are scheduled in the entire season – UPW vs GG on January 10 and UPW vs MI on January 17- both part of double-headers in Navi Mumbai. All other matches will start in the evening, with exact timings to be announced later.
| Date | Match | Start Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 9 (Fri) | MI vs RCB | Evening | Navi Mumbai |
| Jan 10 (Sat) | UPW vs GG | Afternoon | Navi Mumbai |
| Jan 10 (Sat) | MI vs DC | Evening | Navi Mumbai |
| Jan 11 (Sun) | DC vs GG | Evening | Navi Mumbai |
| Jan 12 (Mon) | RCB vs UPW | Evening | Navi Mumbai |
| Jan 13 (Tue) | MI vs GG | Evening | Navi Mumbai |
| Jan 14 (Wed) | UPW vs DC | Evening | Navi Mumbai |
| Jan 15 (Thu) | MI vs UPW | Evening | Navi Mumbai |
| Jan 16 (Fri) | RCB vs GG | Evening | Navi Mumbai |
| Jan 17 (Sat) | UPW vs MI | Afternoon | Navi Mumbai |
| Jan 17 (Sat) | DC vs RCB | Evening | Navi Mumbai |
| Jan 19 (Mon) | GG vs RCB | Evening | Vadodara |
| Jan 20 (Tue) | DC vs MI | Evening | Vadodara |
| Jan 22 (Thu) | GG vs UPW | Evening | Vadodara |
| Jan 24 (Sat) | RCB vs DC | Evening | Vadodara |
| Jan 26 (Mon) | RCB vs MI | Evening | Vadodara |
| Jan 27 (Tue) | GG vs DC | Evening | Vadodara |
| Jan 29 (Thu) | UPW vs RCB | Evening | Vadodara |
| Jan 30 (Fri) | GG vs MI | Evening | Vadodara |
| Feb 1 (Sun) | DC vs UPW | Evening | Vadodara |
| Feb 3 (Tue) | Eliminator | Evening | Vadodara |
| Feb 5 (Thu) | Final | Evening | Vadodara |
Champions, Auctions & Build-Up
Mumbai Indians, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, won both the inaugural 2023 title and the 2025 season, while Smriti Mandhana’s RCB lifted the trophy in 2024. The 2026 season arrives after a major WPL mega auction, which saw all five squads undergo significant reshaping ahead of the new campaign.
With star-studded lineups, renewed rivalries, and a balanced mix of venues, WPL 2026 promises another blockbuster season for women’s cricket in India.
