The 1st match of Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 unfolds at Dr DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on January 9 at 7:30 PM IST, pitting defending champions Mumbai Indians against one-time winners Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). This iconic venue, where India lifted the ODI World Cup 2025, promises a blockbuster opener between Mumbai Indians’ two-title legacy and RCB’s rising ambition. Mumbai’s skipper Harmanpreet Kaur eyes a strong defense, while RCB’s Smriti Mandhana aims to ignite her side’s campaign on a pitch primed for fireworks.
Squads:
Mumbai Indians Women’s Cricket Team
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Nicola Carey, Sanskriti Gupta, Milly Illingworth, Saika Ishaque, Shabnim Ismail, Gunalan Kamalini, Amojot Kaur, Amelia Kerr, Poonam Khemnar, Kranthi Reddy, Hayley Matthews, Nat Sciver Brunt, Rahila Firdous, Sajeevan Sajana, Triveni Vasistha
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women’s Cricket Team
Smriti Mandhana (C), Lauren Bell, Nadine de Klerk, Richa Ghosh, Grace Harris, Dayalan Hemalatha, Gautami Naik, Shreyanka Patil, Kumari Prathyusha, Prema Rawat, Arundhati Reddy, Sayali Satghare, Linsey Smith, Pooja Vastrakar, Georgia Voll, Radha Yadav
Players to watch out:
Harmanpreet Kaur
Harmanpreet Kaur, the dynamic right hand batter and right arm off break bowler, captains Mumbai Indians with flair and fearlessness. In a staggering 187 T20Is, she has amassed 3,784 runs, featuring one century and 15 half centuries, while snaring 32 wickets at an impressive economy of 6.27, proof of her all-round prowess on the global stage. Her WPL dominance shines even brighter across 27 matches, she has 851 runs at a blistering strike rate of 143.50, including eight half centuries that have left bowlers chasing shadows.
Shabnim Ismail
Shabnim Ismail, the fiery right-arm fast medium bowler, strikes fear into batters with her raw pace and precision. Across 113 T20Is, she’s claimed 123 wickets, including a devastating best of 5/12, all at an outstanding economy of 5.77 numbers that scream world class dominance. In the WPL, her 20 matches have produced 20 wickets, highlighted by a sharp 3/18 spell, while maintaining a solid economy of 6.82.
Smriti Mandhana
As RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana continues to be a crucial factor. Across 157 T20I matches, she has amassed 4102 runs at a blistering strike rate of 124,22, boasting one century and 32 half centuries that have powered her team through countless chases and defenses. In WPL across 26 matches, Mandhana has 646 runs including four half-centuries at a strike rate of 126.68, proving she’s not just a leader but a game changer in the shortest format.
Richa Ghosh
Richa Ghosh, the 22-year-old powerhouse wicketkeeper batter, has been a revelation in women’s cricket, blending explosive batting with sharp glovework. In 72 T20Is, she amassed 1113 runs at a blistering strike rate of 144.17, including two half-centuries. Her WPL stats shows 625 runs in 26 matches at 150.96 strike rate, powered by four half centuries that showcase her ability to dominate. Still so young, Ghosh’s fearless approach and consistency mark her as one of the format’s most exciting finishers.
Pitch:
The center strip at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium offers batting friendly pace and bounce early, favoring high scores around 175 averages in T20s with six wickets typical. Seamers exploit initial movement, spinners thrive later, and dew often boosts chasing teams, toss winners may bowl first.
Weather:
Perfect conditions await in Navi Mumbai with clear skies and no rain in sight, just 10% chance. Temperatures will range from a comfortable minimum of 18°C to a warm maximum of 31°C, paired with 38% humidity.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Harmanpreet Kaur, Grace Harris, Hayley Matthews, Shabnim Ismail, Linsey Smith, Nadine de Klerk, Shreyanka Patil, Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav
Match Details:
Date – January 9, 2026
Time – 7:30 PM IST
Venue – DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai
Broadcast – Telecast on Star Sports Network | Streaming on Jio Hotstar (India)
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