The Women’s Premier League is scheduled to be revived with a revamped layout in 2026 and the likely centres for the tournament are Mumbai and Baroda. The BCCI, which has been working quietly on the scheduling for the next edition, is close to finalising a plan which starts in the first week of January and lasts for just under a month.
Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium where recently one of the most memorable finals of women’s cricket was held, is expected to open the season. The ground has gained a good standing for the high-energy crowds, and has soon become a first choice for the marquee matches of women’s games. Its choice is an indication of the board’s desire to start the league in a venue that has emotional burden and fan connect.
And once the first phase is over, the tournament is likely to move westwards to Baroda. The Kotambi Stadium, which has had major upgrades in recent years, is being considered the venue for the second leg, including the final. But since there is an India-New Zealand ODI match at Baroda on January 11, the WPL matches at Baroda are likely to start only after the international match finishes.
Although the BCCI has not circulated any formal document for franchises, the officials have been briefed informally regarding the two-city format. Teams should get the official nod during the WPL auction in New Delhi on November 27. Apart from Mumbai and Baroda, Lucknow and Bengaluru were considered earlier, but it seems the board is settled for a two-venue structure for logistical ease.
The tournament window — tentatively, January 7 to February 3 — is a departure from the league’s normal February-March slot. The reason for the change is in part the men’s T20 World Cup, which starts in early February in India and Sri Lanka. By putting the WPL on earlier, the board hopes to not only avoid scheduling congestion, but also provide the women’s league with a clear run on television. January is also being discussed as a long-term slot which fits better with international women’s tours and T20 competitions.
Mumbai Indians will go into the season as defending champions after they overpowered Delhi Capitals in last year’s final at the Brabourne Stadium. With venue selections almost locked in and the auction quickly coming up, the 2026 is shaping up to be a more condensed and travel-efficient event — one that stretches the league into new territory without losing some of its most popular stages.