MUMBAI — The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 officially kicks off today, January 9, at 7:30 PM IST. The opening match features a high-voltage clash between defending champions Mumbai Indians and the 2024 winners, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
The 2026 tournament runs from January 9 to February 5, featuring a competitive lineup of five teams: the Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and UP Warriorz.
The event kicks off at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai for the first leg, after which the action moves to the BCA Stadium in Vadodara for the second leg and the high-stakes playoffs. Regarding the format, the teams will compete in a double round-robin league to determine their standings. Once the league stage concludes, the top-ranked team will advance directly to the final, while the second and third-placed teams must face off in an Eliminator to secure the remaining spot in the championship match.
Captains:
Mumbai Indians: Harmanpreet Kaur (India)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Smriti Mandhana (India)
Delhi Capitals: Jemimah Rodrigues (India)
Gujarat Giants: Ashleigh Gardner (Australia)
UP Warriorz: Meg Lanning (Australia)
Upcoming Fixtures
| Date | Match | Time (IST) | Venue |
| Fri, Jan 9 | MI vs RCB | 7:30 PM | DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai |
| Sat, Jan 10 | UPW vs GG | 3:30 PM | DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai |
| Sat, Jan 10 | MI vs DC | 7:30 PM | DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai |
| Sun, Jan 11 | DC vs GG | 7:30 PM | DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai |
| Mon, Jan 12 | RCB vs UPW | 7:30 PM | DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai |
For the full schedule and live scores, you can visit the official WPL website or check dedicated sports sites like ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz.com.
WPL 2026 Mega Auction Summary
1. The Record-Breakers
The auction was dominated by UP Warriorz, who used their “Right to Match” (RTM) cards and massive purse to secure the biggest names.
- Deepti Sharma (UP Warriorz): The most expensive buy of the 2026 auction at ₹3.20 crore. She is now the second-highest-paid Indian player in WPL history.
- Amelia Kerr (Mumbai Indians): The top overseas signing, bought for ₹3.00 crore. MI fought hard to bring back the New Zealand all-rounder who has been a pillar of their success.
- Shikha Pandey (UP Warriorz): In a surprise high-value move, the veteran Indian pacer was signed for ₹2.40 crore, making her the third most expensive pick of the day.
2. Major Player Transfers
Several iconic players have moved to new franchises, completely shifting the team dynamics:
- Meg Lanning: Moved from Delhi Capitals to UP Warriorz for ₹1.90 crore. She also takes over the captaincy from Alyssa Healy (who went unsold in a shocking turn of events).
- Sophie Devine: The veteran New Zealander moved from RCB to Gujarat Giants for ₹2 crore.
- Laura Wolvaardt: The South African captain moved from Gujarat Giants to Delhi Capitals (₹1.10 crore).
- Renuka Singh Thakur: The Indian swing specialist moved from RCB to Gujarat Giants (₹60 lakh).
3. Top New Signings by Team
| Team | Star Auction Pickups | Notable Retentions |
| Mumbai Indians | Amelia Kerr (₹3cr), Shabnim Ismail | Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt |
| RCB | Pooja Vastrakar (₹85L), Lauren Bell (₹90L) | Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry |
| UP Warriorz | Deepti Sharma (₹3.2cr), Meg Lanning | Sophie Ecclestone, Tahlia McGrath |
| Delhi Capitals | Laura Wolvaardt, Sree Charani (₹1.3cr) | Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma |
| Gujarat Giants | Sophie Devine (₹2cr), Renuka Singh | Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney |
