Women’s Premier League 2026 set to begin from January 7:Mumbai to host league matches, final to be played in Baroda; mega-auction in Delhi on 27 November

The fourth season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) is set to start on January 7, marking the first time the tournament will be held in January instead of March. According to early reports, the final is expected to take place on February 3. The shift in schedule aims to avoid a clash with major international cricket events lined up early next year. As the excitement builds, fans can look forward to an action-packed month of cricket featuring the best women’s players from India and around the world. This season also comes at a time when the WPL has grown into one of the most popular women’s cricket leagues globally, attracting huge crowds and strong team rivalries. While the BCCI has not made an official announcement yet, discussions about hosting venues are already underway. Franchise owners are likely to receive final confirmation during the player auction on November 27 in Delhi. Also read: Kumar Sangakkara named RR head coach for IPL 2026: Franchise’s Director of Cricket gets dual role, steps in after Rahul Dravid’s short stint Mumbai, Baroda are likely to host matches According to Cricbuzz, the opening league matches may be played at DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai, which recently hosted the Women’s World Cup final. The remaining matches, including the title clash, are expected to be held in Baroda, with the final likely set for Kotambi Stadium. Baroda’s matches could begin from January 16, as the venue is scheduled to host an India–New Zealand ODI on January 11. Last season, the WPL was played across four cities—Lucknow, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Baroda. The same four cities submitted bids this year, but reports suggest that Mumbai and Baroda have been selected for hosting duties this time. Why is WPL being held in January? The shift to a January window comes due to two major reasons: The Men’s T20 World Cup will begin in early February in India and Sri Lanka. January is being considered as a permanent WPL window so that the league does not clash with other major T20 tournaments or ICC events. Mumbai Indians eye a third title in the 4th season Defending champions Mumbai Indians will once again enter the tournament as strong favourites. They are the most successful team in WPL history, with two titles in 2023 and 2025. Royal Challengers Bangalore won the 2024 edition. Also read: What each team must do in IPL 2026 auction?: KKR in search of Russell’s replacement, CSK need lower-order firepower; team-wise analysis The retention list for the new season was released on November 6, with key players like Harmanpreet Kaur (MI), Smriti Mandhana (RCB) and Jemimah Rodrigues (DC) all retained by their respective teams.