The Board of Control for cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday announced the schedule for the 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL), continuing the growth of the increasingly popular T20 tournament. The fourth edition of the WPL will be played from January 9 to February 5, across two indian cities: Navi Mumbai and Vadodara.Following a triumphant 2025 season where Mumbai Indians secured their second championship title, the league looks to build on its momentum and further elevate the profile of women’s cricket.
Women’s Premier League 2026: Dates and Venues Announced. The fourth edition of the league will run from January 9 to February 5. Navi Mumbai and Vadodara will host matches.
Highlights:
- WPL begins January 9
- Final on February 5
- Venues: Navi Mumbai, Vadodara
The first half of the tournament will take place in Navi Mumbai, with the second half, including the final on February 5, being hosted in Vadodara. Mumbai Indians are the current champions, having defeated Delhi Capitals in the 2025 final to secure their second title under the leadership of Harmanpreet Kaur.
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Mumbai Indians are the only team to have won the WPL twice. In the 2024 season, Royal Challengers Bangalore, captained by Smriti Mandhana, claimed the trophy. This marks the second time the WPL will be held across multiple hubs, following the 2024 edition hosted in Bengaluru and Delhi. The third edition was played in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Lucknow, and Vadodara, with the final taking place in Mumbai.
In the league stage, the top team will directly advance to the final. The teams finishing second and third will compete in a Qualifier match to determine the other finalist. In the previous season, MI defeated Gujarat Titans in the Eliminator and went on to win the final by 8 runs.
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The player auction for the upcoming season has been completed. Franchises retained key players and filled remaining squad slots through the auction. Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma was the most expensive buy, acquired by UP Warriorz for ₹3.2 crore. Mumbai Indians secured Amelia Kerr for ₹3 crore.
In a surprise turn, Alyssa Healy went unsold despite interest from multiple franchises. She previously played for UP Warriorz in 2023 and 2024 but missed the 2025 season due to injury.
Franchises had earlier released their lists of retained and released players. Prominent Indian stars Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur were retained by their respective franchises. Mandhana joined Royal Challengers Bangalore for ₹3.4 crore in the inaugural auction, while Harmanpreet Kaur, who has captained Mumbai Indians since the first season, was bought back for ₹1.8 crore.
About the AuthorNishad AmeenHas been working in the media for 17 years. Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Calicut University and a PG Diploma in Television Journalism from the Calicut Press Club, as well as a postgraduate degree in English Literature. He worked as a journalist in Saudi Arabia for seven years and served as the General Secretary of the Indian Media Forum in Saudi Arabia. He has worked as a Senior Sub Editor at Suprabhatam, Malayalam News, and Tejas Daily, and as a Gulf News Editor and Senior Reporter in various bureaus and editorial desks in Kerala and the Gulf, including New Delhi, Riyadh, Jeddah, and the UAE. Currently writes sports articles for Samayam Malayalam.… Read More
