As the Women’s Premier League (WPL) enters its fourth season on January 9, 2026, the competition is no longer about potential, it is about execution. While every franchise will fancy its chances over the course of a tournament, three teams standout based on pedigree, consistency and squad balance. They combine proven performers with match-winners in key roles, making them the most well-placed contenders to dominate the league phase and mount a serious title charge this season. Here are the three teams that are best positioned to challenge for the WPL crown in 2026.
Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians enter WPL 2026 with a target firmly on their back. As the defending as well as two-time champions, they have established a winning dynasty. Their approach to the auction was less about revolution and more about preserving the core that delivered successive titles. They successfully retained their spine and used their Right to match card to secure key international players, ensuring minimal disruption to their successful formula.
In WPL 2025, Nat Sciver-Brunt was the tournament’s standout batter, finishing as the leading run-scorer with 523 runs at an average of 65.37. With the ball, Hayley Matthews and Amelia Kerr were equally destructive, finishing as joint-highest wicket-takers with 18 wickets each, while also topping the all-time WPL wicket charts. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur remains central to Mumbai’s success, having scored 268 runs at an average of 53.60 in WPL 2024, 302 from 10 outings in WPL 2025. With proven winners in every department and an unmatched big-match temperament, Mumbai Indians once again start as favourites.
Delhi Capitals
If consistency alone decides championships, Delhi Capitals would already have multiple WPL trophies. They are the only team to reach the final in all three seasons so far and have topped the league table every time, yet the title has narrowly eluded them. Heading into 2026 with new captain Jemimah Rodrigues at the helm, Delhi remains a formidable unit built around explosive batting and disciplined bowling. Their numbers underline just how dominant they have been across seasons.
Shafali Verma leads the league’s power-hitting charts, having smashed 49 sixes, the most in WPL history. In the bowling department, Marizanne Kapp has been the Capitals’ spearhead, bowling six maidens and the most dot balls in WPL 2025 while maintaining an exceptional economy rate of 5.89. With the addition of South-African batter Laura Wolvaardt, Delhi aims to strengthen their batting prowess even more. For Delhi, WPL 2026 is about breaking the final barrier and turning dominance into silverware.
UP Warriorz
UP Warriorz enter WPL 2026 as the most transformed side among the contenders. After a disappointing last season, the franchise opted for an aggressive reset, reshaping their squad through high-impact auction moves aimed at immediate success. The headline acquisition was Meg Lanning, whose leadership and experience have added instant credibility to the setup.
One of the most accomplished batters in the tournament’s history, Lanning is also among the league’s top run-scorers, with 952 runs to her name — a statistic that underlines her value both as a leader and a consistent performer at the top of the order. The return of India all-rounder Deepti Sharma has further strengthened the Warriorz’s core.
Deepti arrives in strong form after an outstanding performance at the ICC Women’s World Cup in November last year, with 215 runs and 22 wickets in hand. Currently ranked second in the ICC T20I bowler rankings, she offers balance with both bat and ball and remains central to UP’s plans. With a balance of international names like Phoebe Litchfield, Sophie Ecclestone and a strong domestic core, the Warriorz aim for their first title this season.
As the Women’s Premier League continues to evolve, the margins between teams grow finer with each passing season. Yet, titles are still claimed by sides that combine squad depth, clear leadership and the ability to deliver under pressure. Mumbai Indians carry the confidence and composure of proven champions, Delhi Capitals arrive with a legacy of sustained excellence and unfinished business, while UP Warriorz step into the season as a revitalised unit riding genuine momentum.
Injuries, form fluctuations and tactical calls will inevitably shape the tournament’s story, but on balance and recent performance trends, these three franchises stand best placed to endure the grind and challenge for the WPL crown in 2026.
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