The Women’s Premier League 2026, the fourth edition of India’s premier women’s T20 franchise cricket tournament, will run from January 9 to February 5, 2026. The tournament spans 28 days and features 22 matches played across two iconic venues: DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai and Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara.
TATA WPL 2026 Match Timing Details
Evening Matches: 7:30 PM IST
The vast majority of WPL 2026 matches will commence at 7:30 PM IST (Indian Standard Time), ensuring prime-time television slots and optimal viewership.
Afternoon Matches: 3:30 PM IST
Only two matches are scheduled as afternoon fixtures, both occurring on double-header days at Navi Mumbai:
- January 10: UP Warriors vs Gujarat Giants (3:30 PM IST)
- January 17: UP Warriors vs Mumbai Indians (3:30 PM IST)
These afternoon matches are followed by evening matches on the same dates, creating double-header experiences for fans.
Rest Days and Gaps
- January 18: Gap between Navi Mumbai and Vadodara legs
- February 2: Gap following the conclusion of league stage
- February 4: Final rest day before the championship match
WPL 2026 Full Schedule: Complete Match List And Timings
| Match No. | Date | Day | Fixture | Time (IST) | Location / Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | January 9 | Friday | Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 7:30 PM | DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai |
| 2 | January 10 | Saturday | UP Warriorz vs Gujarat Giants | 3:30 PM | DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai |
| 3 | January 10 | Saturday | Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals | 7:30 PM | DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai |
| 4 | January 11 | Sunday | Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Giants | 7:30 PM | DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai |
| 5 | January 12 | Monday | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs UP Warriorz | 7:30 PM | DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai |
| 6 | January 13 | Tuesday | Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Giants | 7:30 PM | DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai |
| 7 | January 14 | Wednesday | UP Warriorz vs Delhi Capitals | 7:30 PM | DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai |
| 8 | January 15 | Thursday | Mumbai Indians vs UP Warriorz | 7:30 PM | DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai |
| 9 | January 16 | Friday | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Giants | 7:30 PM | DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai |
| 10 | January 17 | Saturday | UP Warriorz vs Mumbai Indians | 3:30 PM | DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai |
| 11 | January 17 | Saturday | Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 7:30 PM | DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai |
| 12 | January 19 | Sunday | Gujarat Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 7:30 PM | Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara |
| 13 | January 20 | Monday | Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians | 7:30 PM | Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara |
| 14 | January 22 | Wednesday | Gujarat Giants vs UP Warriorz | 7:30 PM | Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara |
| 15 | January 24 | Friday | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals | 7:30 PM | Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara |
| 16 | January 26 | Sunday | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians | 7:30 PM | Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara |
| 17 | January 27 | Monday | Gujarat Giants vs Delhi Capitals | 7:30 PM | Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara |
| 18 | January 29 | Wednesday | UP Warriorz vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 7:30 PM | Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara |
| 19 | January 30 | Thursday | Gujarat Giants vs Mumbai Indians | 7:30 PM | Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara |
| 20 | February 1 | Saturday | Delhi Capitals vs UP Warriorz | 7:30 PM | Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara |
| 21 | February 3 | Tuesday | Eliminator (2nd vs 3rd place) | 7:30 PM | Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara |
| 22 | February 5 | Thursday | Final (1st vs Eliminator Winner) | 7:30 PM | Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara |
TATA WPL 2026 Tournament Structures
The league features five franchises—Mumbai Indians (MI), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Delhi Capitals (DC), Gujarat Giants (GG), and UP Warriors (UPW)—competing in a double round-robin format during the league stage.
League Stage Format:
- Each team plays every other team twice (home and away)
- Total of 20 matches during the league stage (concluding February 1)
- All five teams participate in a balanced fixture list
WPL 2026 Playoff Structure:
- 1st place: Direct qualification to the Final on February 5
- 2nd and 3rd place: Eliminator on February 3 (winner advances to final)
- Final: February 5 (Thursday evening)
WPL 2026 Key Scheduling Features
Prime-Time Advantage
Almost all matches (20 out of 22) are scheduled at 7:30 PM IST, providing optimal prime-time television slots and ensuring maximum viewership during the crucial evening hours.
Double-Header Strategy
The two double-header matches on Saturdays (January 10 and 17) allow multiple matches in a single day. This provides:
- Afternoon entertainment (3:30 PM start) for early viewers
- Evening prime-time match (7:30 PM start) for maximum audience
- Fan engagement opportunities throughout the day
Strategic Spacing
The Vadodara leg features intentional spacing with multiple rest days between matches, preventing fixture congestion and allowing teams adequate preparation time.
First Weekday Final
For the first time in WPL history, the final is scheduled on a Thursday evening (February 5) rather than a weekend. This reflects BCCI’s confidence in the tournament’s broadcast strength and audience engagement.
International Calendar Coordination
The January 9 – February 5 window was strategically chosen to:
- Avoid the Men’s T20 World Cup: Set to begin February 7, 2026
- Avoid the Men’s Under-19 World Cup: Beginning February 6, 2026
- Complete before India women’s Australia tour: India’s women’s team is scheduled for an all-format tour of Australia from February 15 to March 9, 2026, featuring three T20Is, three ODIs, and a Test match
This scheduling ensures no national team players miss WPL matches due to international commitments during the tournament window.
The January 9 start date marks the earliest WPL tournament start since the league’s inception. Previous editions were held later in the year, but the 2026 scheduling reflects strategic international calendar management and growing confidence in women’s cricket as a year-round entertainment offering.
The dual-venue format (Navi Mumbai and Vadodara) represents the first time the WPL has been spread across two cities, providing broader geographic reach and preventing venue monopolization of the tournament.
