Tournament Overview
The Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 was the third edition of India's premier women's T20 franchise cricket competition, organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Held from January 9 to February 5, 2026, the tournament featured five franchise teams competing in a double round-robin format followed by a knockout playoff stage.
The WPL has rapidly established itself as one of the most significant women's cricket leagues in the world, attracting top international talent from Australia, England, South Africa, the West Indies, and beyond. The 2026 edition built on the momentum of the first two seasons, delivering higher viewership, stronger sponsorship deals, and more competitive on-field action than ever before.
The league format ensured that each team played 8 league-stage matches (4 home, 4 away), totalling 20 group-stage games. The top three teams from the group stage advanced to the playoffs, which consisted of a Qualifier (1st vs 2nd), an Eliminator (3rd vs loser of Qualifier), and the Final. This structure rewarded consistent group-stage performance while still giving third-placed teams a realistic path to the title.
For fans following the broader women's cricket landscape, our Women's Cricket section covers international tours, bilateral series, and player features year-round. You can also explore the men's franchise tournament on our IPL 2026 Schedule page.
WPL 2026 Teams
Five franchise teams competed in the WPL 2026, each with a mix of Indian domestic stars and overseas recruits. Here is a detailed look at every squad and their season narratives.
1. Mumbai Indians Women (MI-W)
The Mumbai Indians Women, captained by Harmanpreet Kaur, entered the 2026 season as one of the pre-tournament favourites. Their squad blended Indian experience with world-class overseas signings. Harmanpreet's aggressive batting approach and tactical acumen in T20 cricket made MI-W a formidable force in the powerplay and death overs.
Key players included leg-spinner Hayley Matthews from the West Indies, who provided crucial all-round contributions, and pace spearhead Issy Wong from England. The Indian contingent was strengthened by the presence of Deepti Sharma, whose off-spin and lower-order batting added depth to the squad. MI-W's home matches at the Wankhede Stadium drew enthusiastic crowds, underlining the growing popularity of women's cricket in Mumbai.
2. Delhi Capitals Women (DC-W)
Delhi Capitals Women had a stellar league stage, finishing second in the group standings and eventually reaching the final. Led by Meg Lanning, the Australian legend who came out of retirement specifically for this WPL campaign, DC-W combined composure at the top of the order with aggressive middle-order hitting.
Shafali Verma continued to evolve as one of the most destructive openers in women's T20 cricket, regularly clearing the boundary in the powerplay. Their overseas bowling attack, spearheaded by South African pacer Marizanne Kapp, gave DC-W the ability to defend totals on flat tracks. Lanning's tactical nous in the field and her ability to absorb pressure in run chases made DC-W the team to beat for much of the season.
3. Royal Challengers Bangalore Women (RCB-W)
The eventual champions, Royal Challengers Bangalore Women, were led by the magnificent Smriti Mandhana. Mandhana's elegant left-handed batting and calm leadership transformed RCB-W into a title-winning unit. Her ability to anchor innings while maintaining a high strike rate was the cornerstone of RCB-W's batting strategy.
The team's overseas contingent was headlined by Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry, who delivered match-winning performances with both bat and ball throughout the tournament. New Zealand's Sophie Devine added explosive hitting in the middle overs, while England's Sophie Ecclestone, the world's top-ranked T20I bowler, was virtually unplayable on turning pitches. RCB-W's balanced combination of batting firepower and bowling depth ultimately proved decisive in the playoffs.
4. UP Warriorz
The UP Warriorz, captained by Alyssa Healy, had a mixed campaign. The Australian wicketkeeper-batter brought world-class experience behind the stumps and provided explosive starts at the top of the order. Her partnership with Indian opener Shweta Sehrawat produced some memorable powerplay fireworks.
However, inconsistency in the middle overs and a thin bowling attack meant the Warriorz couldn't sustain momentum across the full league stage. South African pace bowler Shabnim Ismail provided express pace upfront but lacked consistent support at the other end. Despite flashes of brilliance, UP Warriorz finished fourth and missed out on the playoff spots.
5. Gujarat Giants
The Gujarat Giants faced a challenging season, finishing fifth in the group standings. Captain Beth Mooney from Australia led from the front with consistent batting contributions, but the team struggled to build winning momentum. Their Indian core, featuring Ashleigh Gardner and Dayalan Hemalatha, showed promise in patches but lacked the consistency required to challenge the top three.
Gujarat's bowling unit, while containing individual talent, often leaked runs in the death overs — a critical weakness in T20 cricket. The franchise will look to address this imbalance through the WPL 2027 auction, targeting experienced death bowlers and utility all-rounders to strengthen their squad depth.
WPL 2026 Final Points Table
After 20 league-stage matches, the final standings determined the three teams that advanced to the playoffs. RCB-W topped the table with an exceptional run, while DC-W secured second place and MI-W grabbed the crucial third spot.
| Pos | Team | P | W | L | NR | Pts | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RCB Women 🏆 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 12 | +0.872 |
| 2 | Delhi Capitals Women | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 12 | +0.654 |
| 3 | Mumbai Indians Women | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 | +0.215 |
| 4 | UP Warriorz | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 6 | -0.341 |
| 5 | Gujarat Giants | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 2 | -1.400 |
Green rows indicate teams that qualified for the playoffs. RCB-W finished top on net run rate despite being level on points with DC-W.
Playoffs & Final
The WPL 2026 playoffs followed the standard three-match knockout format that gives the top two teams a double chance at reaching the final.
Qualifier: RCB-W vs DC-W
In the Qualifier, RCB Women and Delhi Capitals Women played a high-quality contest. RCB-W batted first and posted a competitive 158/5, anchored by Smriti Mandhana's composed 62 off 47 balls. Ellyse Perry chipped in with a rapid 38 off 24 deliveries. DC-W's chase faltered after a strong start from Shafali Verma (29 off 18), as Sophie Ecclestone's miserly spell of 2/18 in four overs strangled the middle order. RCB-W won by 22 runs to advance directly to the final.
Eliminator: MI-W vs DC-W
The Eliminator saw Delhi Capitals Women face Mumbai Indians Women in a must-win encounter. DC-W's batting depth proved the difference — after being reduced to 67/4 at the halfway mark, Meg Lanning (unbeaten 71 off 52) and Marizanne Kapp (34 off 22) engineered a remarkable recovery to post 149/6. MI-W's chase never gained momentum against DC-W's disciplined bowling, and they were bowled out for 121. DC-W advanced to face RCB-W in the final.
The Final: RCB-W vs DC-W
The WPL 2026 Final was a rematch between the two best teams of the season. Delhi Capitals Women batted first and posted 155/7, with Shafali Verma (43 off 32) and Meg Lanning (39 off 30) providing the backbone of the innings. Shabnim Ismail and Sophie Ecclestone kept the scoring in check during the middle overs.
In response, RCB Women chased down the target with 6 wickets in hand and 8 balls to spare. Smriti Mandhana produced a Player-of-the-Final performance with a sublime 72 off 51 balls, featuring nine boundaries and two sixes. Ellyse Perry provided the finishing touch with an unbeaten 35 off 22 deliveries. The victory gave RCB-W their maiden WPL title and capped off a dominant season.
Key Stats & Records
The WPL 2026 season produced several outstanding individual and team performances. Here are the headline statistics from the tournament:
| Stat | Record | Player / Team |
|---|---|---|
| Most Runs | 378 runs (10 innings) | Smriti Mandhana (RCB-W) |
| Most Wickets | 18 wickets (10 innings) | Sophie Ecclestone (RCB-W) |
| Highest Individual Score | 92* off 56 balls | Shafali Verma (DC-W) |
| Best Bowling Figures | 4/16 in 4 overs | Deepti Sharma (MI-W) |
| Highest Team Total | 189/3 in 20 overs | RCB Women vs Gujarat Giants |
| Most Sixes in Tournament | 14 sixes | Sophie Devine (RCB-W) |
| Best Economy Rate (min. 20 overs) | 5.62 runs/over | Sophie Ecclestone (RCB-W) |
| Player of the Tournament | 378 runs, 2 fifties, avg 47.25 | Smriti Mandhana (RCB-W) |
Smriti Mandhana's consistency throughout the tournament was remarkable. She scored at a strike rate of 138.46 while maintaining an average above 47 — an exceptional combination in T20 cricket. Her 378 runs included two half-centuries and four 40-plus scores, and she was dismissed for single digits only once in the entire tournament. Read more about her career in our Smriti Mandhana biography and stats feature.
Sophie Ecclestone's 18 wickets came at an average of just 12.44, and her economy rate of 5.62 was the lowest among all bowlers who bowled at least 20 overs. Her left-arm spin was particularly lethal in the middle overs, where batters struggled to rotate strike against her accuracy and sharp turn.
Deepti Sharma's all-round contributions for MI-W were also noteworthy — she finished with 12 wickets and 142 runs, serving as Harmanpreet Kaur's most trusted option in crunch situations.
Season Analysis & Talking Points
The Rise of RCB Women
RCB-W's title-winning campaign was built on three pillars: Smriti Mandhana's leadership and batting consistency, Ellyse Perry's match-winning all-round performances, and Sophie Ecclestone's stranglehold in the middle overs. Unlike the previous two editions where one or two standout performers carried their teams, RCB-W had contributions from across the squad. Their Indian players — including Richa Ghosh behind the stumps and Renuka Singh with the new ball — stepped up consistently, giving the side a balanced look that no other franchise could match.
DC-W's Remarkable Consistency
Delhi Capitals Women demonstrated that depth wins tournaments. Despite losing the Qualifier, they showed tremendous character in the Eliminator to fight their way back to the final. Meg Lanning's return to competitive cricket was one of the feel-good stories of the season, and Shafali Verma's maturation as a T20 batter — now capable of building innings beyond the powerplay — suggests she will be a force in women's cricket for years to come.
Spin Dominance in the Middle Overs
One of the defining tactical trends of WPL 2026 was the dominance of spin bowling in overs 7–15. Teams that invested in quality spinners reaped the rewards: RCB-W (Ecclestone), MI-W (Deepti Sharma), and DC-W (with their spin duo) all used slow bowlers as their primary wicket-taking weapons in the middle phase. This trend mirrors what we see in the men's IPL and underscores the importance of spin all-rounders in T20 franchise cricket. Fantasy cricket enthusiasts should note this pattern when building their Dream11 teams — visit our Dream11 Tips Hub for data-driven insights.
Growing Attendance & Viewership
WPL 2026 recorded a 35% increase in average stadium attendance compared to the 2025 edition. Digital viewership on JioCinema crossed 400 million cumulative views across the tournament, with the final attracting a peak concurrent viewership of 18 million. These numbers reinforce the commercial viability of women's franchise cricket and are expected to drive even larger investment in the WPL 2027 auction.
How to Watch WPL
The Women's Premier League is broadcast across multiple platforms to ensure maximum accessibility for fans worldwide:
- India (Streaming): JioCinema — free live streaming of all matches with Hindi and English commentary.
- India (TV): Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, and Star Sports Hindi.
- United Kingdom: Sky Sports Cricket with NOW TV streaming option.
- Australia: Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports.
- USA & Canada: Willow TV for live coverage.
- Rest of the World: ICC.tv and FanCode app in select markets.
Match highlights are typically available within 30 minutes of the conclusion on JioCinema and the official BCCI website. Full match replays are accessible on JioCinema for Indian viewers.
WPL History & Past Winners
The Women's Premier League was established by the BCCI in 2023, becoming the first women's franchise T20 league sanctioned by any Full Member cricket board. The inaugural season was held in Mumbai, and the tournament quickly became a landmark event for women's cricket worldwide.
| Season | Champion | Runner-up | Player of the Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|
| WPL 2023 | Mumbai Indians Women | Delhi Capitals Women | Hayley Matthews |
| WPL 2024 | Royal Challengers Bangalore Women | Delhi Capitals Women | Smriti Mandhana |
| WPL 2025 | Delhi Capitals Women | Royal Challengers Bangalore Women | Shafali Verma |
With the 2026 title, RCB-W became the first team to win the WPL twice, having also lifted the trophy in the 2024 edition. DC-W hold the unfortunate record of appearing in the most finals (three) without winning the title.
Looking Ahead to WPL 2027
With the third season now complete, the WPL has firmly established itself in the global cricket calendar. The BCCI is expected to announce the WPL 2027 auction window in late 2026, with several franchises likely to restructure their squads. Key talking points heading into the next edition include:
- Whether the BCCI will expand the tournament to six teams, a move that has been discussed since the league's inception and would add more matches and broadcast revenue.
- The potential inclusion of associate nation players through a dedicated overseas slot, similar to what the men's IPL does with uncapped international players.
- Salary cap increases to attract top-tier international players who currently earn significantly more in the WBBL (Australia) and The Hundred (England).
- Infrastructure upgrades to dedicated women's cricket venues, ensuring that the WPL is no longer played on borrowed grounds during off-windows of the men's calendar.
Stay tuned to our blog for the latest updates on the WPL 2027 auction, retention policies, and squad announcements as they are confirmed by the BCCI.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won WPL 2026?
Royal Challengers Bangalore Women (RCB-W) won the WPL 2026 title, defeating Delhi Capitals Women in the final by 6 wickets. Smriti Mandhana was named Player of the Tournament for her exceptional batting throughout the season, scoring 378 runs in 10 innings at an average of 47.25.
When was WPL 2026 held?
The Women's Premier League 2026 ran from January 9 to February 5, 2026. The tournament spanned 28 days and featured 23 matches in total — 20 league-stage games and 3 playoff matches (Qualifier, Eliminator, and Final).
How many teams play in the WPL?
The WPL features five franchise teams: Mumbai Indians Women, Delhi Capitals Women, Royal Challengers Bangalore Women, UP Warriorz, and Gujarat Giants. There is ongoing discussion about expanding to six teams from the 2027 season onward.
What is the format of the WPL?
The WPL follows a double round-robin group stage where each team plays every other team twice, resulting in 8 matches per team and 20 group-stage matches in total. The top three teams qualify for the playoffs, which consist of a Qualifier (1st vs 2nd), an Eliminator (3rd vs loser of Qualifier), and the Final. Each match is a standard T20 format of 20 overs per side.
Where can I watch WPL matches?
WPL matches are broadcast live on JioCinema (free streaming) and Star Sports network on television in India. International viewers can access live coverage through Willow TV (USA/Canada), Sky Sports (UK), and Fox Cricket (Australia). Match highlights are also available on the official BCCI website and the ICC.tv platform.