The WPL 2026 is expected to kick off on January 7, with matches likely to be played across two cities. According to reports, the WPL Auctions 2026 are scheduled to take place in Delhi on November 27, and the full tournament schedule could be announced soon. Early reports suggest that the fourth edition of the league may be played in two legs, with Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium and Kotambi Stadium in Baroda as potential venues.
Mumbai and Baroda set to co-host WPL 2026
The Baroda leg is expected to take place after the men’s ODI fixture against New Zealand on January 11. However, nothing has been officially confirmed yet, as final discussions are slated to occur during the WPL Auction 2026. Other cities, including Lucknow and Bengaluru, were also considered for hosting matches.
The tournament is likely to run from January 7 to February 3, keeping in mind the FTP and the men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which starts on February 7 in India. The WPL is expected to grow in stature this year, especially following Team India’s maiden Women’s World Cup triumph over South Africa.
Franchise retentions have already been announced, with one of the biggest surprises coming from UP Warriorz, who chose not to retain star all-rounder Deepti Sharma. Last year, Mumbai Indians secured their second WPL title under Harmanpreet Kaur, while RCB clinched the trophy in 2024 under Smriti Mandhana, marking Bengaluru’s first-ever WPL championship.
