NEW DELHI: Harmanpreet Kaur’s defending champions Mumbai Indians will take on 2024 winners Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the opening match of the fourth Women’s Premier League on January 9 at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

For the first time in the tournament’s short history, the WPL final will not be held on a weekend. The title clash is scheduled for Thursday, February 5, a shift made to avoid a direct clash with the men’s T20 World Cup, which begins the same week in India and Sri Lanka.

The T20 World Cup starts on February 7 with Pakistan facing Netherlands in Colombo.

Two venue, 28 day league

The 22 match league will run for 28 days across two venues. DY Patil Stadium, which recently hosted India’s historic ODI World Cup triumph over South Africa, will stage the first 11 games, including afternoon double headers on January 10 and 17.

All remaining matches in Navi Mumbai will be evening fixtures.

The league then moves to the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara, which will host the final 11 games including the Eliminator on February 2 and the final on February 5.

This will be the first WPL season played in the January February window. The previous three editions were held in February March, often running close to the IPL and overlapping with international fixtures.

Format unchanged

The format remains the same with Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, UP Warriorz, Gujarat Giants and Delhi Capitals playing each other twice in a double round robin. The top placed team secures a direct berth in the final, while the second and third placed sides contest the Eliminator.

Mumbai Indians have claimed two of the three titles so far, while RCB won the 2024 edition. Delhi Capitals have finished runners up in all three seasons, and Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz are still searching for their first final appearance.

Ten days after the WPL ends, the Indian women’s team will leave for an all format tour of Australia, featuring three T20Is, three ODIs and a Test from February 15 to March 9.

WPL season 4 schedule

Navi Mumbai

  • January 9: Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru
  • January 10: UP Warriorz vs Gujarat Giants; Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals
  • January 11: Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Giants
  • January 12: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs UP Warriorz
  • January 13: Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Giants
  • January 14: UP Warriorz vs Delhi Capitals
  • January 15: Mumbai Indians vs UP Warriorz
  • January 16: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Giants
  • January 17: UP Warriorz vs Mumbai Indians; Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Vadodara

  • January 19: Gujarat Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru
  • January 20: Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians
  • January 22: Gujarat Giants vs UP Warriorz
  • January 24: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals
  • January 26: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians
  • January 27: Gujarat Giants vs Delhi Capitals
  • January 29: UP Warriorz vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru
  • January 30: Gujarat Giants vs Mumbai Indians
  • February 1: Delhi Capitals vs UP Warriorz

Knockouts

  • Eliminator: February 3 (Vadodara)
  • Final: February 5 (Vadodara)

(With PTI Inputs)