The Women’s Premier League (WPL) ignites its 4th edition from January 9 to February 5, 2026, with the first phase at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai and the second at Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. Mumbai Indians stand poised to reclaim their throne under skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. The two-time Champions from the inaugural 2023 triumph and the 2025 finale (their second title in three editions) outshone runners-up Delhi Capitals across all three prior seasons, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru snatched the 2024 crown to end their 17-year franchise drought.
Retaining powerhouse all-rounders Harmanpreet Kaur (₹2.5 crore), Nat Sciver-Brunt (₹3.5 crore), and Hayley Matthews (₹1.75 crore), alongside domestic gems Amanjot Kaur (₹1 crore) and keeper-batter G Kamalini (₹50 lakh), Mumbai Indians blended stability with youth before the November 27, 2025, mega auction. Auction fireworks followed: a ₹3 crore splash on White Ferns star Amelia Kerr, whose heroics fueled past glories; a steal in South Africa’s Shabnim Ismail (₹60 lakhs); explosive finisher Sajeevan Sajana (₹75 lakhs); late gems like Nicola Carey (₹30 lakhs), Saika Ishaque (₹30 lakhs), Milly Illingworth (₹10 lakhs); plus, returnees Sanskriti Gupta (₹20 lakhs).
Mumbai Indians Squad for WPL 2026:
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Matthews, Amanjot Kaur, G Kamalini, Amelia Kerr, Shabnim Ismail, Rahila Firdous, Nicola Carey, Sajeevan Sajana, Sanskriti Gupta, Triveni Vasistha, Poonam Khemnar, Nalla Reddy, Milly Illngworth, and Saika Ishaque
Best Possible XI for Mumbai Indians:
1] Gunalan Kamalini (wk)
Seventeen-year-old prodigy Gunalan Kamalini steps up as Mumbai Indians’ bold first-choice opener alongside Hayley Matthews and frontline wicketkeeper for WPL 2026, her gloves and bat ready to ignite the season. Last season, the wicket-keeper batter featured in 9 games for Mumbai, scoring 32 runs across five lower-order innings at a blistering strike rate of 128 and an average of 10.66. Her stock soared as India’s second-highest run-scorer, third overall, in the ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup 2025 in Malaysia, amassing 143 runs in 7 innings at a strike rate of 104.37 and average of 35.75, powered by two half-centuries.
Capping a dream year, she debuted for senior India in the 5th T20I against Sri Lanka on December 30, 2025, at Thiruvananthapuram, opening with Shafali Verma to score a composed 12 off 12 balls (including two boundaries) in a 5-0 whitewash. Elevated to the top with Matthews, Kamalini’s poise behind the stumps and explosive potential promise fireworks for title-hungry Mumbai Indians.
2] Hayley Matthews
West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews, Mumbai Indians retained all-round dynamo at ₹1.75 crore, pioneers a dynamic new opening alliance with teenage sensation Gunalan Kamalini for WPL 2026, replacing Yastika Bhatia, who shifted to Gujarat Giants in the November 27, 2025, mega auction. Matthews ranks as Mumbai Indians’ third-highest run-scorer ever, with 758 runs in 29 innings across 29 matches at a strike rate of 121.47, average of 27.07, and five half-centuries.
Her bowling prowess shines brighter: the franchise’s all-time leading wicket-taker with 41 scalps in 29 innings (29 matches) at an average of 17.56 and economy of 7.24. Beyond the top order, she anchors one of three frontline spinners alongside Amelia Kerr and Saika Ishaque, her off-spin and power-hitting primed to propel Mumbai toward another title charge.
3] Amelia Kerr
White Ferns star all-rounder Amelia Kerr, secured for ₹3 crore after her title-winning heroics, slots in at No. 3 for Mumbai Indians in WPL 2026, her leg-spin forming the heartbeat of a fearsome trio with Hayley Matthews and Saika Ishaque. The franchise’s second-highest wicket-taker, just behind Matthews’ 41, boasts 40 scalps in 29 innings across 29 matches at an average of 17.90 and economy of 7.64, including a four-wicket haul and a five-wicket haul. With the bat, she’s Mumbai’s fifth-leading run-scorer, piling 437 runs in 24 innings (29 matches) at a strike rate of 119.39 and average of 24.27. Kerr’s all-round wizardry promises to spin webs and steady chases, fueling Mumbai’s three-peat bid. She is also likely to break her maiden half-century drought in the upcoming edition.
4] Harmanpreet Kaur
India’s ODI World Cup-winning captain and Mumbai Indians’ two-time WPL title-winning skipper, Harmanpreet Kaur (retained for ₹2.5 crore), anchors No. 4 in the batting order for the 2026 campaign, her middle-order mastery key to defending the crown. She’s the franchise’s second-highest run-scorer with 851 runs in 26 innings across 27 matches at an explosive strike rate of 143.50 and an average of 40.52, featuring eight half-centuries. Kaur’s leadership and clutch firepower, proven in the 2023 and 2025 triumphs, position Mumbai to dominate DY Patil and Kotambi, blending ice-cool finishes with tactical genius.
5] Nat Sciver-Brunt
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, Mumbai’s highest-paid retention at ₹3.5 crore, slots into No. 5 for the WPL 2026, her all-round brilliance fueling the two-time champions’ defence. She’s the franchise’s all-time leading run-scorer with 1,027 runs in 29 innings across 29 matches at a strike rate of 141.85 and average of 46.68, including eight half-centuries. With the ball, she ranks third in wickets for Mumbai with 32 scalps in 29 innings (29 matches) at an average of 22.28 and economy of 7.66. Bearing increased responsibility as the second frontline pacer behind Shabnim Ismail and alongside Amanjot Kaur, workload management becomes crucial, especially after scaling back her overs for England recently, ensuring her seam-up strikes complement the spin-heavy attack.
6] Amanjot Kaur
Rising Indian all-rounder Amanjot Kaur (retained for ₹1 crore) ignites No. 6 for the Mumbai Indians in WPL 2026, her dynamic presence bridging bat and ball in the title defence. She’s the franchise’s sixth-highest run-scorer with 209 runs in 18 innings across 29 matches at a strike rate of 127.43 and average of 23.22. Seamlessly, she claims 5 wickets in 13 innings at an average of 33.60 and an economy of 7.63. Elevated to frontline third pacer alongside Shabnim Ismail and Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amanjot’s raw pace and lower-order firepower promise balance, turning Mumbai’s attack into a relentless unit across DY Patil and Kotambi.
7] Poonam Khemnar
Veteran 31-year-old batting all-rounder Poonam Khemnar brings proven finishing nous to No. 7 for Mumbai Indians in WPL 2026, snapped up in the November 27, 2025, mega auction after stints with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (2023 debut) and UP Warriorz (2024). Across 7 innings in 10 matches, she has amassed 101 runs at a strike rate of 107.44 and an average of 16.83. Slotted as a late-order accelerator, she can unleash leg-spin overs if skipper Harmanpreet Kaur calls, adding tactical depth to Mumbai’s championship chase on DY Patil and Kotambi pitches.
8] Sajeevan Sajana
Auction steal Sajeevan Sajana (₹75 lakhs), the 31-year-old batting all-rounder, blasts into No. 8 for Mumbai Indians in WPL 2026, her explosive finishing set to supercharge late overs. In 14 innings across 19 matches, she’s hammered 138 runs at a strike rate of 145.26 and an average of 17.25, including two half-centuries. She supplements this with 3 wickets in 3 innings at an average of 11 and an economy of 11, chipping in handy off-spin overs as required. Sajana’s high-octane cameos promise to tilt tight chases, bolstering MI’s depth in the title hunt.
9] Sanskriti Gupta
Emerging 21-year-old off-spinner Sanskriti Gupta (₹20 lakhs) bolsters No. 9 for Mumbai Indians in WPL 2026, her return after limited prior outings injecting youth and control into the lower order. She has snared 4 wickets in 6 innings at an average of 14 and economy of 6.58, throttling middle overs with precision. Adding tail-end bite, she’s scored 23 runs in 4 innings at a strike rate of 127.77 and an average of 7.66. Gupta’s economical spin and gritty cameos enhance Mumbai Indians balance, perfect for crunching defences in the WPL title race.
10] Shabnim Ismail
Veteran 37-year-old South African speedster Shabnim Ismail (₹60 lakhs auction steal), debuting for UP Warriorz in WPL 2023 before joining Mumbai, spearheads the pace attack as lead bowler in 2026, tasked with powerplay breakthroughs and death-over yorkers. For Mumbai Indians, she’s the sixth-highest wicket-taker with 17 scalps in 17 innings (17 matches) at an average of 26.11 and economy of 6.52; overall in WPL, 20 wickets in 20 innings at 26.80 average and 6.82 economy. She chips in 12 runs off 3 innings at a strike rate of 133.33. Ismail’s raw pace and smarts will unlock innings, powering Mumbai’s progress this season.
11] Saika Ishaque
The 30-year-old left-arm spinner Saika Ishaque (₹30 lakhs), who exploded into stardom with a breakthrough inaugural WPL season, anchors the Mumbai Indians’ spin attack in 2026 despite batters cracking her code in the last edition. She’s the franchise’s fourth-highest wicket-taker with 25 scalps in 22 innings across 22 matches at an average of 20.68 and economy of 7.62, including a four-wicket haul. Tasked with reviving her mystery alongside Amelia Kerr and Hayley Matthews, Saika’s arm-ball guile and middle-over strangleholds will be pivotal in Mumbai’s championship pursuit across Navi Mumbai and Vadodara.
Harmanpreet Kaur-led Mumbai Indians will kickstart their campaign in the upcoming 4th edition of the WPL on the opening day of the tournament against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, led by skipper Smriti Mandhana, on 9th January 2026 at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, from 30 PM IST.
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