Defending champions Mumbai Indians face RCB in WPL 2026 opener tomorrow at Mumbai

Fresh from their historic ODI World Cup triumph, India’s women cricketers return to action as the fourth Women’s Premier League begins with a blockbuster clash in Mumbai.

Still riding high on the success of their maiden ODI World Cup victory, India’s women cricketers are set to resume competitive cricket with the start of the fourth season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) on Friday. The tournament also marks the beginning of India’s build-up to the upcoming T20 World Cup scheduled for June-July in England.

The season opener promises high excitement as defending champions and two-time title holders Mumbai Indians (MI), led by Harmanpreet Kaur, take on Smriti Mandhana’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The match will be played at the DY Patil Stadium, widely regarded as the home of Indian women’s cricket.

The 2026 WPL will be conducted in two phases, with matches hosted in Navi Mumbai and Vadodara. The league will feature top international and domestic players, offering teams valuable high-pressure match experience ahead of the global T20 event.

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Mumbai Indians appear the strongest on paper, having retained most of their championship-winning squad. Alongside Harmanpreet, MI boast global stars including England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews. Their batting depth is further strengthened by New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr, Australia’s Milly Illingworth and India’s reliable Amanjot Kaur, making MI the team to beat.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru, champions in 2024, will be led once again by Smriti Mandhana. With Ellyse Perry unavailable, Mandhana’s leadership and form at the top will be crucial. RCB’s batting includes Australia’s Georgia Voll, all-rounder Grace Harris and South Africa’s Nadine de Klerk, while wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh adds firepower in the finishing role.

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RCB’s bowling attack features experienced seamers Arundhati Reddy, Pooja Vastrakar and England’s Lauren Bell, supported by quality spin options in Linsey Smith, Radha Yadav and Shreyanka Patil.

With strong squads and renewed confidence, the WPL curtain-raiser is set to deliver a thrilling start to the season.