Defending champions Mumbai Indians will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru match number 1 of Women’s Premier League (WPL 2026) at 7.30 PM IST on Friday. The game will mark the start of Harmanpreet Kaur and co’s campaign in their hunt for a fourth title while Smriti Mandhana and co. will be looking to replicate their feat from 2024 and lay their hands on the franchise’s second title in the tournament. The game, which is scheduled to be held at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai, will see both sides fuction with a completely new team, despite both MI and RCB retaining their core.
Match Details
- Match: Mumbai Indians Women vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women, Match 1
- Date: January 9, 2026 (Friday)
- Time: 7:30 PM IST (Toss at 7:00 PM)
- Venue: Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai
- Live Streaming: JioHotstar (App & Website)
- Broadcast: Star Sports Network
MI vs RCB Head-to-Head Record
The rivalry between these two giants has been closely contested over the first three seasons.
- Total Matches Played: 7
- Mumbai Indians Won: 4
- RCB Won: 3
- Last Meeting: RCB defeated MI in the 2025 season by 11 runs in a high-voltage encounter.
Pitch Report: Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy
The track at the DY Patil Stadium is known for being a batter’s paradise.
- High Scoring: The flat surface and quick outfield usually lead to totals in the 160-170 range.
- Chasing Advantage: Chasing is statistically the better option here. Out of 19 Women’s T20s at this venue, only 4 have been won by the team batting first.
- Dew Factor: Significant dew is expected in the second innings, making it difficult for spinners to grip the ball, further favoring the team batting second.
Team News & Key Players
Mumbai Indians (MI)
The defending champions have stuck to their “tried and tested” core. Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, MI looks incredibly balanced.
- Nat Sciver-Brunt: The leading run-scorer in WPL history remains their biggest threat.
- Hayley Matthews: The Caribbean all-rounder is a match-winner with both bat and ball.
- Shabnim Ismail: Her raw pace will be crucial during the Powerplay.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
RCB enters a new era following the major withdrawal of Ellyse Perry (personal reasons). Smriti Mandhana will have to lead a revamped side.
- Georgia Voll: The new Australian sensation is expected to fill the void at the top.
- Richa Ghosh: Her finishing skills in the death overs will be vital.
- Lauren Bell: The English pacer will lead the attack in the absence of Renuka Singh.
Probable Playing XIs
Mumbai Indians: Hayley Matthews, G Kamalini (WK), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Sajeevan Sajana, Poonam Khemnar, Shabnim Ismail, Saika Ishaque, Sanskriti Gupta.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Smriti Mandhana (C), Georgia Voll, Dayalan Hemalatha, Grace Harris, Nadine de Klerk, Richa Ghosh (WK), Pooja Vastrakar, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil, Arundhati Reddy, Lauren Bell.
Match Prediction: Who will win?
Prediction: Mumbai Indians (MI) to win.
While RCB has the firepower to cause an upset, Mumbai Indians enter as slight favorites (55% win probability). MI’s settled core and the tactical stability provided by Harmanpreet Kaur give them the edge. Furthermore, the absence of Ellyse Perry—who has historically been MI’s “kryptonite”—leaves a massive gap in RCB’s middle order and bowling depth.
Winning Tip: The team winning the toss should opt to bowl first to take advantage of the dew and the chasing-friendly nature of the DY Patil track.
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