The fourth edition of the Women's Premier League (WPL) will kick off with a blockbuster clash between defending champions Mumbai Indians and 2024 winners Royal Challengers Bengaluru on January 9 at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
Tournament Format and Schedule Highlights
The 28-day cricket extravaganza will feature 22 matches across two venues, maintaining the same competitive format as previous seasons. The five teams - Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, UP Warriorz, Gujarat Giants, and Delhi Capitals - will play each other twice in a double round-robin format.
DY Patil Stadium, which recently witnessed India's historic women's ODI World Cup victory against South Africa, will host the first 11 matches of the tournament. The venue will see afternoon double-headers on January 10 and January 17, with all other games in this leg being evening fixtures.
Venue Shift and Final Arrangements
In an interesting development, the league will then move to the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara for the remaining 11 matches. The Eliminator is scheduled for February 2, followed by the summit clash on February 5.
This marks a significant departure from tradition as the WPL final will not be held on a weekend for the first time. The scheduling appears designed to avoid clashing with the men's T20 World Cup, which begins the same week in India and Sri Lanka. The global T20 tournament opens with Pakistan facing Netherlands on February 7 in Colombo.
Historical Context and Team Performances
Mumbai Indians have established themselves as the most successful franchise in WPL history, having won two titles in three seasons. Royal Challengers Bengaluru claimed their maiden championship in the 2024 edition.
Delhi Capitals have shown consistent performance by reaching the final in all three previous seasons, though they've finished runners-up each time. Both Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz are still seeking their first appearance in a WPL final.
The tournament format ensures the top-ranked team advances directly to the final, while the second and third-placed teams battle it out in the Eliminator for the remaining spot in the championship match.
This edition also marks the first time WPL is being held in the January-February window, a shift from the previous February-March schedule that often overlapped with international fixtures and preceded the men's IPL.
Following the WPL conclusion, the Indian women's cricket team will embark on an all-format tour of Australia, playing three T20Is, three ODIs, and a Test match from February 15 to March 9.
