The Women’s Premier League 2026 will begin with a high-profile clash between Mumbai Indians Women and Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. As defending champions, Mumbai Indians enter the tournament with confidence under the leadership of Harmanpreet Kaur, aiming to continue their strong form after winning the 2025 title. Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women, led by Smriti Mandhana, will be equally motivated, having lifted the trophy in 2024 and now targeting an opening-win against the reigning champions.

Head-to-head records

Both sides boast a balanced mix of experienced stars and promising young players, making the season opener a highly anticipated contest. Historically, Mumbai hold a slight edge with four wins from seven encounters, while RCB have won three.

Pitch & weather forecast

Weather conditions are expected to be ideal, with clear skies, moderate temperatures, and minimal rain threat. Dew is likely in the second innings, which could favor chasing teams. The pitch traditionally supports batting, with first-innings scores around 150–160.

Predicted XIs

MIW:

Hayley Matthews, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Amanjot Kaur, Amelia Kerr, G Kamalini (WK), Shabnim Ismail, Saika Ishaque, Sajeevan Sajana, Sanskriti Gupta, Poonam Khemnar

RCBW:

Smriti Mandhana (C), Nadine de Klerk, Shreyanka Patil, Pooja Vastrakar, Richa Ghosh (WK), Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav, Georgia Voll, Lauren Bell, Gautami Naik, Linsey Smith

When and where to watch

The Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru match in WPL 2026 is scheduled to start at 7:30 PM IST on Friday, January 9, at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, with the toss set for 7:00 PM IST.

Fans can watch the Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru WPL 2026 match live on the Star Sports network, while JioHotstar will provide the live streaming coverage.(With inputs from Agencies)