The Women’s Premier League (WPL) is back, and the 2026 edition promises to be the most explosive yet. Shifting to a new January to February window, the tournament brings the world’s best cricketers to the cricketing hubs of Navi Mumbai and Vadodara.
For bettors and fantasy cricket enthusiasts, the 2026 season offers fresh challenges. With Jemimah Rodrigues taking over the captaincy at Delhi Capitals, Meg Lanning departing, and the pitch conditions at the new BCA Stadium in Vadodara remaining a mystery to many, expert analysis is more crucial than ever.
At wplbetting.com, we don’t just guess; we analyze. From the red soil bounce of DY Patil to the dew factor in Vadodara, our daily predictions are backed by data, historical trends, and on ground reports. Bookmark this page for your daily dose of winning tips.
Today Match Prediction – WPL 2026
The 4th Edition of the TATA WPL kicks off on January 9, 2026, marking a significant shift in the women’s cricket calendar. To accommodate the Future Tours Programme (FTP), the BCCI has moved the tournament to the start of the year, ensuring prime time action for fans across the globe.
This year, the tournament follows a “Caravan” model across two cities:
- Leg 1 (Jan 9 Jan 17): The action begins at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, a venue famous for high scoring thrillers and electric atmospheres.
- Leg 2 & Playoffs (Jan 19 Feb 5): The caravan moves to the BCA Stadium in Vadodara, a venue known for its batting friendly black soil pitches.
Defending champions Mumbai Indians, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, will look to secure a “Three Peat,” while the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, fresh off their 2024 triumph, are hungry for more. With the “Mega Auction” reshaping squads—including Deepti Sharma’s record breaking move to UP Warriorz, the balance of power has shifted.
WPL 2026 Schedule:
Here is the Official WPL 2026 Schedule for your website. I have structured it cleanly into a table format with all the confirmed dates, venues, and timings based on the latest official announcements.
- Navi Mumbai Leg (Jan 9 – Jan 17): First 11 matches at DY Patil Stadium.
- Vadodara Leg (Jan 19 – Feb 5): Final 11 matches (including Playoffs) at BCA Stadium.
| Match No | Day | Date | Time (IST) | Fixture | Venue | Prediction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fri | 9 Jan 2026 | 07:30 PM | Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Navi Mumbai | View Prediction |
| 2 | Sat | 10 Jan 2026 | 03:30 PM | UP Warriorz vs Gujarat Giants | Navi Mumbai | View Prediction |
| 3 | Sat | 10 Jan 2026 | 07:30 PM | Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals | Navi Mumbai | View Prediction |
| 4 | Sun | 11 Jan 2026 | 07:30 PM | Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Giants | Navi Mumbai | View Prediction |
| 5 | Mon | 12 Jan 2026 | 07:30 PM | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs UP Warriorz | Navi Mumbai | View Prediction |
| 6 | Tue | 13 Jan 2026 | 07:30 PM | Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Giants | Navi Mumbai | View Prediction |
| 7 | Wed | 14 Jan 2026 | 07:30 PM | UP Warriorz vs Delhi Capitals | Navi Mumbai | View Prediction |
| 8 | Thu | 15 Jan 2026 | 07:30 PM | Mumbai Indians vs UP Warriorz | Navi Mumbai | View Prediction |
| 9 | Fri | 16 Jan 2026 | 07:30 PM | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Giants | Navi Mumbai | View Prediction |
| 10 | Sat | 17 Jan 2026 | 03:30 PM | UP Warriorz vs Mumbai Indians | Navi Mumbai | View Prediction |
| 11 | Sat | 17 Jan 2026 | 07:30 PM | Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Navi Mumbai | View Prediction |
| 12 | Mon | 19 Jan 2026 | 07:30 PM | Gujarat Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Vadodara | View Prediction |
| 13 | Tue | 20 Jan 2026 | 07:30 PM | Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians | Vadodara | View Prediction |
| 14 | Thu | 22 Jan 2026 | 07:30 PM | Gujarat Giants vs UP Warriorz | Vadodara | View Prediction |
| 15 | Sat | 24 Jan 2026 | 07:30 PM | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals | Vadodara | View Prediction |
| 16 | Mon | 26 Jan 2026 | 07:30 PM | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians | Vadodara | View Prediction |
| 17 | Tue | 27 Jan 2026 | 07:30 PM | Gujarat Giants vs Delhi Capitals | Vadodara | View Prediction |
| 18 | Thu | 29 Jan 2026 | 07:30 PM | UP Warriorz vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Vadodara | View Prediction |
| 19 | Fri | 30 Jan 2026 | 07:30 PM | Gujarat Giants vs Mumbai Indians | Vadodara | View Prediction |
| 20 | Sun | 1 Feb 2026 | 07:30 PM | Delhi Capitals vs UP Warriorz | Vadodara | View Prediction |
| 21 | Tue | 3 Feb 2026 | 07:30 PM | Eliminator (TBD vs TBD) | Vadodara | View Prediction |
| 22 | Thu | 5 Feb 2026 | 07:30 PM | Final (TBD vs TBD) | Vadodara | View Prediction |
(Note: The tournament shifts to Vadodara from Jan 19 for the second leg and playoffs.)
Todays Match Analysis:
Why should you trust our predictions? Because we look beyond the obvious. While most pundits look at the points table, we dive into the granular details that actually decide T20 matches. Here is our eight step framework for analyzing WPL matches.
1. Team Form Guide:
Momentum is everything in a short tournament like the WPL. A team that has lost three in a row is statistically less likely to chase down a 180+ score than a confident unit.
- We Check: Last 5 Match Results (e.g., L W W L W).
- Context: Did they lose because they played badly, or because of a bad toss decision?
2. Pitch Report:
DY Patil (Navi Mumbai): Known for its Red Soil pitches. This offers true bounce, meaning the ball comes onto the bat nicely. It is a paradise for stroke makers like Shafali Verma. However, the bounce also keeps fast bowlers like Shabnim Ismail interested.
BCA Stadium (Vadodara): This venue uses Black Soil. Traditionally, black soil holds moisture longer but cracks under the sun. We expect it to be a “Batting Highway” with short boundaries (approx. 60m), but spinners might get grip in afternoon games.
3. Weather Conditions:
Since the tournament is in January, the weather in Mumbai and Gujarat is pleasant but impactful.
- The Breeze: Navi Mumbai often sees a strong sea breeze in the evening, which can aid swing bowlers like Renuka Singh Thakur in the powerplay.
- The Cold: Vadodara evenings can get chilly (dropping to 15°C), which might make fielding uncomfortable and the ball harder to grip.
4. Recent Injuries & Squad Changes:
- Meg Lanning is no longer with the Delhi Capitals. The leadership has passed to the young and energetic Jemimah Rodrigues. How will this affect their tactical stability?
- We track the availability of overseas stars who might arrive late due to international commitments.
5. Toss Prediction:
In Indian conditions, the toss is often 40% of the match.
- For evening Games (7:30 PM), “Win Toss, Bowl First” is the golden rule. Dew usually settles in the second innings, making the ball wet and slippery for spinners. Defending a total becomes a nightmare.
- For afternoon Games (3:30 PM), Teams prefer batting first to avoid fielding under the scorching sun and to put scoreboard pressure on the opponent.
6. Head to Head Stats:
History repeats itself. Some teams have a psychological edge over others.
- Rivalry Watch: Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals. These two have met in consecutive finals (2024, 2025). MI holds the edge in finals, but DC often dominates the league stage. Knowing this helps in “Match Winner” markets.
7. Player Performance & Matchups:
We analyze specific player battles (Matchups).
- Example: Smriti Mandhana vs Off spin. If the opposition starts with an off spinner (like Deepti Sharma), Mandhana’s strike rate traditionally drops. We use this to predict “Player Runs” markets.
- Form: Who is the “Orange Cap” contender? Is Ellyse Perry hitting the ball well in the nets?
8. Momentum & Psychological Edge:
Cricket is a mental game. A team coming off a “Super Over” win carries immense adrenaline. Conversely, a team that choked in a run chase might play defensively in the next game. We gauge the dressing room atmosphere through press conferences and body language.
WPL Points Table 2026:
Understanding the standings is vital for “Must Win” scenarios. Towards the end of the league stage, a team already qualified might rest key players, affecting the match result.
| Rank | Team | P | W | L | NRR | Pts | Status |
| 1 | Mumbai Indians | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0 | |
| 2 | Delhi Capitals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0 | |
| 3 | UP Warriorz | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0 | |
| 4 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0 | |
| 5 | Gujarat Giants | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0 |
- Top 1: Direct qualification to the Final.
- 2nd vs 3rd: Play the Eliminator.
Who Will Lift the WPL 2026 Trophy?
Based on the squads’ post auction, here is our early verdict on the title contenders:
The Favorite: Mumbai Indians (MI)
Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, they have the most balanced squad. With Amelia Kerr (retained) and the addition of solid Indian domestic talent, they cover all bases. Their ability to win “clutch” moments makes them the bookies’ favorite.
The Challenger: Delhi Capitals (DC)
Under new captain Jemimah Rodrigues, DC brings a youthful aggression. They have the most explosive opening pair in Shafali Verma and their overseas stars. If their bowling holds up in Vadodara, they can finally break their “Runner Up” curse.
The Dark Horse: UP Warriorz (UPW)
By signing Deepti Sharma for a record fee, UPW has fixed their all rounder slot. Their spin attack is lethal, which will be a massive advantage on the turning tracks of India. Watch out for them.
Faqs:
While the Mumbai Indians are the pre tournament favorites due to their squad depth, the Delhi Capitals look extremely dangerous under Jemimah Rodrigues. It will likely be a battle between these two giants again.
We pride ourselves on a high strike rate. In WPL 2025, our “Match Winner” predictions had an accuracy of over 75%. However, cricket is unpredictable, and we always advise betting responsibly.
In India, the tournament is broadcast live on the Sports18 Network. You can also stream it for free on the JioCinema app.
Apart from the match winner, the “Top Batter” and “Total Sixes” markets offer great value. In Vadodara, betting on “First Innings Score Over 170” is a smart play due to the short boundaries.
Yes, the WPL Final scheduled for February 5, 2026, typically has a reserve day in case of rain, ensuring a result is achieved.
