The biggest rivalry in women’s franchise cricket lights up WPL 2026 right from the start. Defending champs Mumbai Indians Women face 2024 winners Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women at DY Patil Stadium on Friday, January 9. MI-W have the target on their backs, two-time champions loaded with big names like Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, and Amelia Kerr. On the other side, RCB-W are missing their star all-rounder Ellyse Perry, who’s out for personal reasons. Still, sparks always fly when these two meet, and the atmosphere will be even bigger at the stadium where India just lifted the ODI World Cup two months ago.
Nat Sciver-Brunt returns as WPL’s first 1000-run scorer and last season’s MVP. She won both the Orange Cap and the MVP award in 2025, helping MI win their second title. For RCB, Smriti Mandhana is the heartbeat of the team after a jaw-dropping 2024-25 season—she smashed 763 runs in T20Is, the most in any calendar year. Both captains have special memories at this ground after India’s World Cup win, but now, they’re back as rivals.
Mumbai Indians Women vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women Match Preview
Mumbai has kept the core of its title-winning squad. Harmanpreet Kaur played a match-winning knock of 66 off 44 balls in the 2025 final against Delhi. Nat Sciver-Brunt did it all too, taking 3 for 30 with the ball and chipping in 30 runs. MI have added English pacer Milly Illingworth, and 17-year-old keeper-batter G Kamalini is set for a “special role,” according to Harmanpreet.
RCB have a big hole to fill with Ellyse Perry out—she’s their top run-getter and fourth-highest wicket-taker in WPL history. They’ve brought in Sayali Satghare as her replacement. Last season was rough for RCB; they finished fourth, winning just three out of eight games. But Shreyanka Patil is back after missing 2025 with injuries, and Pooja Vastrakar has returned from rehab, ready for the opener.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Mumbai Indians Women vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women, WPL Match 1 |
| Date | Friday, 9th January, 2026 |
| Time | 7:30 PM IST |
| Venue | Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai |
| Tournament | Women’s Premier League 2026 (Season 4) |
Pitch Report
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Batting-friendly with consistent bounce and good pace |
| Average Score | 169 runs (first innings T20s since 2024) |
| Favours | Batters and pacers get early assistance with the new ball |
| Surface | Soil imported from South Africa; true bounce |
| WPL Records | Only 3 of 11 WPL matches at DY Patil were won by teams batting first |
| Key Factor | Dew is likely in the second innings; chasing teams have an advantage |
| Boundary | Shortest end 48m; longest boundary 66m |
Weather Report
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Around 25-28°C |
| Humidity | 75-80% |
| Wind Speed | 13-19 km/h |
| Rain Chance | Clear skies; no rain expected |
| Dew Factor | Significant in the second innings |
Toss Prediction
DY Patil Stadium usually gives chasing teams the edge. Out of 11 WPL games here, only three teams have successfully defended a total successfully. Dew often becomes a factor in the second innings, making it tough for bowlers to grip the ball. With an average first-innings score of 169, runs should flow, and the captain winning the toss is likely to bowl first.
Injury Updates
Mumbai Indians Women: The squad is settled with all key players fit and available. Squad includes Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Matthews, Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, G Kamalini (wk), Shabnim Ismail, Saika Ishaque, S Sajana, Sanskriti Gupta, Poonam Khemnar, Nicola Carey, Triveni Vasistha, Rahila Firdous, Nalla Reddy, and Milly Illingworth.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women: Ellyse Perry has withdrawn from WPL 2026 due to personal reasons. Sayali Satghare has been signed as her replacement. Pooja Vastrakar has recovered from multiple injuries and is expected to be fit for the opener. Squad includes Smriti Mandhana (c), Richa Ghosh (wk), Shreyanka Patil, Georgia Voll, Nadine de Klerk, Radha Yadav, Lauren Bell, Linsey Smith, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Grace Harris, Gautami Naik, Prema Rawat, D Hemalatha, Prathyoosha Kumar, and Sayali Satghare.
Dream11 Team for Mumbai Indians Women vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women
Mumbai Indians Women vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women Head-to-Head
Mumbai Indians Women lead the head-to-head, winning 4 of their 7 matches against RCB. RCB have three wins, including their biggest one, a 5-run knockout of MI in the 2024 Eliminator. MI had the upper hand in 2023, but RCB have taken three of the last four, so this rivalry’s only getting hotter.
Last Five Matches
- RCB Women won by 11 runs 11-Mar-2025
- MI Women won by 4 wickets (with 1 ball remaining) 21-Feb-2025
- RCB Women won by 5 runs 15-Mar-2024
- RCB Women won by 7 wickets (with 30 balls remaining) 12-Mar-2024
- MI Women won by 7 wickets (with 29 balls remaining) 02-Mar-2024
Suggested Reads:
Top Picks For The Match
| Player | Reason |
|---|---|
| Nat Sciver-Brunt (Captain) | WPL’s first 1000-run scorer; Orange Cap and MVP winner in 2025; 3/30 in WPL final; England captain |
| Smriti Mandhana (Vice Captain) | 763 T20I runs in 2024 (most by any player in a year); ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year; World Cup winner |
| Amelia Kerr | First woman to take 400 T20 wickets (402); leading wicket-taker in women’s T20s; recently scored maiden T20 hundred |
| Hayley Matthews | West Indies captain; MI’s explosive opener; familiar with DY Patil conditions from previous WPL stints |
| Richa Ghosh | Explosive finisher; reliable wicketkeeper; key player in RCB’s middle order |
| Shreyanka Patil | Returns after missing WPL 2025 due to injuries; spin-bowling all-rounder who can be decisive |
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