WPL 2026 likely in Mumbai and Baroda from Jan 7 to Feb 3
Women's cricket may not take too long to return to the DY Patil Stadium, the venue that hosted the memorable final of the Women's World Cup earlier this month. The Navi Mumbai ground is set to host one of the two legs of the Women's Premier League (WPL) in January 2026.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has zeroed in on Mumbai and Baroda for the fourth season of the WPL, and in all likelihood, the DY Patil Stadium - hailed by many Indian women cricketers as their favourite ground - will be the venue for the season's launch.
If everything goes according to the plan, the second half of the tournament, including the final, is set to be played at the Kotambi Stadium in Baroda. The Baroda leg may start around January 16, as a men's ODI between India and New Zealand is scheduled in the city on January 11.
The BCCI has not yet formally informed the franchise owners, but the venues are being discussed at an informal level. The five teams are expected to be officially notified about the venues during the WPL auction in New Delhi on November 27. Four cities were in contention - Lucknow and Bengaluru, besides Baroda and Mumbai - had hosted WPL 3.
Season may kick off on January 7
There is also no formal confirmation about the potential window for the five-team league, but it is learnt that the tournament could be held from January 7 to February 3. Last year, the WPL was played in February and March, but as previously reported by Cricbuzz, the January window has been locked - and this could be due to multiple reasons.
First up is the men's T20 World Cup, which will start in the first week of February and will be held in India and Sri Lanka for a month. Second, January has been agreed as a potential permanent window for the WPL across cricketing nations so that the fixtures do not overlap with other leagues and the ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP).
Mumbai Indians are the defending champions, having beaten Delhi Capitals last year at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.
