WPL 2026 Season Opener: Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru – What You Need to Know on January 9

The WPL 2026 first match is finally here, and it couldn’t be more thrilling. The defending champions, the Mumbai Indians women, will face the reigning champions, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru women, on January 9, 2026, at the iconic DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai—the same ground where India lifted the ODI World Cup trophy just two months ago. This match marks the beginning of India’s most thrilling women’s cricket tournament, with incredibly high stakes.​

Why does this match matter so much? Because Harmanpreet Kaur’s Mumbai Indians are chasing back-to-back titles, while Smriti Mandhana’s RCB is looking to defend their 2024 championship crown. Both teams have world-class players, proven champions, and the hunger to win. For women’s cricket fans in India, this is the moment the entire tournament hinges on—a classic showdown between two powerhouse franchises.

WPL 2026 Season Overview

The Women’s Premier League 2026 marks the fourth edition of India’s premier women’s cricket tournament. After three successful seasons, the WPL has become the second-biggest women’s cricket league globally, attracting international talent and showcasing exceptional cricket.

Key Tournament Details:

• Tournament Duration: January 9 – February 5, 2026
• Total Matches: 22 matches in league phase + Eliminator + Final
• Venues: DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai (11 matches) and Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara (11 matches + playoffs)
• Participating Teams: 5 franchises (Mumbai Indians, RCB, Delhi Capitals, UP Warriorz, Gujarat Giants)
• Format: Double round-robin league followed by playoffs (Eliminator on Feb 3, Final on Feb 5)​

Important Note: This is the first time the WPL final will be held on a weekday (Thursday), shifted from the traditional weekend to avoid conflicts with the men’s T20 World Cup starting the same week.

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Match Details: Everything You Need to Know

Match 1 – WPL 2026 Season Opener

Detail	Information
Teams	Mumbai Indians Women vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women
Date	Friday, January 9, 2026
Time	7:00 PM IST (Evening Match)
Venue	DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai
Format	T20 (20 overs per side)
Toss	30 minutes before match start

Why Navi Mumbai Matters for This Match:

The DY Patil Stadium is historically a batting paradise. The ground has witnessed some of the highest-scoring matches in women’s cricket history, with pitches offering excellent pace, bounce, and consistent behaviour throughout the innings. For a season opener, this pitch suits both teams—it encourages aggressive cricket while still rewarding excellent batting technique.

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Mumbai Indians Women – The Defending Champions

Team Overview:

Mumbai Indians, under the leadership of Harmanpreet Kaur, come into this match as the defending champions with two WPL titles under their belt (2023 and 2025). The team has shown notable consistency in retaining their core winning group, which suggests they believe in continuity over dramatic changes.​

Squad Composition & Key Players

Retained Players (5 Players):

• Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain) – The World Cup-winning captain and backbone of MI’s batting
• Nat Sciver-Brunt (3.50 crore) – English all-rounder and one of the most explosive batters globally
• Hayley Matthews (1.75 crore) – West Indian all-rounder with exceptional death-overs bowling
• Amanjot Kaur (1.00 crore) – Rising Indian batter who burst onto the scene in 2025
• G Kamalini (50 lakh) – Young 17-year-old wicket-keeper with immense potential​

Notable New Acquisitions:

• Amelia Kerr (3.00 crore) – Highest-priced foreign player at the auction, New Zealand’s dynamic batter
• Shabnim Ismail – South African pace bowler bringing international experience
• Sajeevan Sajana – Rising Indian talent with explosive batting potential

Probable Playing XI for MI:

Hayley Matthews, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Poonam Khemnar, G Kamalini (WK), Sajeevan Sajana, Sanskriti Gupta, Shabnim Ismail, Saika Ishaque​

Why Mumbai Indians Are Favourites:

Mumbai Indians hold the psychological advantage of being defending champions and have won 4 out of 6 matches against RCB in head-to-head contests. Their bowling depth under Harmanpreet’s captaincy has been their biggest strength, especially in death overs, where Hayley Matthews and Shabnim Ismail can be devastating.

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Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women – The Defending Title Holders

Team Overview:

RCB, captained by the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2024, Smriti Mandhana, come into WPL 2026 with the pressure of defending their 2024 championship. While Mumbai won twice, RCB broke their 16-year title drought with a brilliant 2024 campaign. The team has made smart buys at the auction, focusing on balance and depth.​

Squad Composition & Key Players

Retained Players (4 Players):

• Smriti Mandhana (Captain, 3.40 crore) – Most expensive player in WPL history, world-class batter and leader
• Ellyse Perry – Australian legend and one of cricket’s greatest all-rounders
• Richa Ghosh – Explosive wicket-keeper-batter who can change games single-handedly
• Shreyanka Patil – World-class Indian spinner with a 360-degree batting approach​

Notable New Acquisitions:

• Lauren Bell (90 lakh) – English pace bowler with significant pace and variations
• Pooja Vastrakar (85 lakh) – India’s World Cup-winning all-rounder
• Radha Yadav – Part of India’s World Cup 2025 winning squad, excellent spin bowler
• Georgia Voll – Australian batter bringing international experience
• Grace Harris – Irish all-rounder with all-format experience
• Nadine de Klerk – South African pacer

Probable Playing XI for RCB:

Smriti Mandhana (C), Georgia Voll, Ellyse Perry, Grace Harris, Richa Ghosh (WK), Nadine de Klerk, Pooja Vastrakar, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Lauren Bell​

Why RCB Are Strong Contenders:

RCB’s championship-winning experience in 2024 and the additions of Pooja Vastrakar and Radha Yadav (both India’s World Cup winners) significantly strengthen their Indian core. Their top-heavy batting order with Mandhana, Perry, and Richa Ghosh is arguably the most dangerous in the tournament, capable of taking down any bowling attack on any given day.

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Head-to-Head Record: Who Has the Upper Hand?

Overall Record (All WPL Seasons Combined):

Metric	Mumbai Indians	Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Total Matches	6	6
Wins	4	2
Win Percentage	66.67%	33.33%
Average Runs Per Match	139.0	138.0

What This Means: Mumbai Indians clearly have the psychological edge, having won 4 of the last 6 encounters. However, RCB’s recent championship win (2024) and their championship experience suggest they understand how to perform under pressure in high-stakes matches.​

Recent Head-to-Head Moments:

In WPL 2025, Mumbai Indians chased down 167 in a last-over thriller at the M.A. Chinnaswamy Stadium, demonstrating their incredible nerve and ability to win tight contests. This clutch victory gave them massive confidence heading into the 2026 edition.

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Key Players to Watch

Harmanpreet Kaur (MI Captain)

Harmanpreet Kaur, the World Cup-winning captain of India’s women’s cricket team, brings unmatched international experience to the MI setup. Her record speaks volumes:

• T20I Record: Over 3,000 runs with a strike rate above 130
• Leadership: Led India to the World Cup 2025 trophy and MI to two WPL titles
• Tournament Performance: Consistent performer in high-pressure situations

Why She’s Crucial for MI: In a season opener, a captain’s mindset and temperament matter more than individual brilliance. Harmanpreet’s presence in the middle order gives MI stability when they need it most, and her ability to accelerate in death overs is unparalleled.​

Smriti Mandhana (RCB Captain)

Smriti Mandhana, ranked among the top 5 women batters globally, carries the weight of defending RCB’s title. Her 2024 performance was exceptional:

• WPL 2024: 300+ runs from 10 matches with crucial contributions in the final
• ICC Recognition: Won the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2024 award
• Strike Rate: Consistently around 140+ in T20 cricket

Why She’s Crucial for RCB: A captain’s form directly impacts team morale. If Mandhana can get off to a strong start in this opener and score 40+ runs, it will set the tone for RCB’s entire campaign. Conversely, if she struggles, RCB will need their middle order to compensate.​

Nat Sciver-Brunt (MI All-rounder)

The English all-rounder is one of the most explosive batters in the WPL, capable of taking any bowling attack apart. Her retention by MI for 3.50 crore shows the franchise’s confidence in her abilities. In T20 cricket, when she gets going, stopping her becomes nearly impossible.

Ellyse Perry (RCB All-rounder)

Perry is an Australian cricket legend with 500+ international matches across formats. Her experience, technique against fast bowling, and ability to bowl crucial overs make her invaluable for RCB. At 32, she’s still one of the most dangerous players in the world.

WPL 2026 Season Opener Prediction

Expert Analysis & Match Verdict

Pre-Match Assessment:

Both teams are evenly matched with world-class players in every department. However, when you factor in venue conditions, recent form, and head-to-head record, here’s what the data suggests:

Factors favouring the Mumbai Indians:

• Head-to-head dominance: 4 wins from 6 matches (66.67% win rate)
• Champion’s experience: Won the 2025 WPL title, so team has recent success momentum
• Death-overs bowling: Hayley Matthews and Shabnim Ismail are exceptional bowlers under pressure
• Venue advantage: DY Patil Stadium has historically favored explosive teams with strong bowling attacks
• Captain’s experience: Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership in high-pressure matches is unparalleled​

Factors Favouring Royal Challengers Bengaluru:

• Championship experience: Won 2024 WPL title, so team knows how to handle pressure
• Indian core strength: Addition of Pooja Vastrakar and Radha Yadav (World Cup winners) strengthens the squad
• World-class batting: Mandhana, Perry, and Richa Ghosh form one of the most dangerous top orders
• Aggressive batting approach: Perry and Mandhana together can chase down any total on batting-friendly tracks
• Recent international form: Smriti Mandhana was ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2024​

Final Prediction

Mumbai Indians to win by 12 runs (MI bat first and score 165-170, RCB falls short around 153-158)

Key Prediction Details:

• Expected MI Score: 168/7 (First Innings)
  • Nat Sciver-Brunt: 38-42 runs
  • Harmanpreet Kaur: 28-32 runs
  • Amelia Kerr: 20-25 runs
• Expected RCB Score: 156/8 (Second Innings)
  • Smriti Mandhana: 35-40 runs
  • Ellyse Perry: 28-32 runs
  • Grace Harris: 18-22 runs
• Player of the Match: Hayley Matthews (MI) – 2 wickets and a crucial 15-18 run cameo with bat
• Decisive Factor: Death-overs bowling excellence by MI’s bowling unit, particularly Hayley Matthews’ ability to restrict RCB’s aggressive approach in the final 5 overs

Confidence Level: 65% for MI (meaning 35% chance for RCB upset)

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What Makes This Match Special

This season opener is special for three reasons:

1. Historical Venue: DY Patil Stadium hosted India’s ODI World Cup victory—so this match is played on the ground where Indian women’s cricket wrote history just months ago
2. Champion vs Champion: Both teams have won WPL titles in recent seasons, guaranteeing a battle between experienced, hungry franchises
3. Star Power: The presence of Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Ellyse Perry, and Nat Sciver-Brunt in one match is a festival for cricket lovers. These are world-class players who elevate the quality of cricket instantly

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Research & Sources

This match analysis is based on:

• The official BCCI WPL 2026 schedule and squad announcements released on November 28-30, 2025
• Player performance statistics from WPL 2023, 2024, and 2025 seasons from ESPN CricInfo and WPL official records
• Head-to-head records of MI vs RCB compiled from three seasons of WPL data (2023-2025)
• Expert commentary from cricket analysts on venue conditions at DY Patil Stadium and player forms
• Researched by team lotus365 on different platforms (Reddy Anna Club, Raja Game, Tiranga App, Taj 777)

FAQs – WPL

Final Takeaway

The WPL 2026 first match on January 9 between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru is more than just a cricket match—it’s a celebration of women’s cricket in India. With championship-winning captains, world-class players, and a venue that hosted India’s ODI World Cup triumph, this match has everything to be a classic.

Whether you’re a casual cricket fan, a fantasy league player, or someone who simply loves great sports, this match is essential viewing. Two-time champions Mumbai taking on title-defending champions RCB at the historic DY Patil Stadium—this is the stuff cricket memories are made of.

Your move: Be there January 9 at 7 PM IST to witness the beginning of WPL 2026’s greatest chapter!