The fourth season of the Women’s Premier League ended on February 5, 2026, and proved to be rich in records, sensational lineups, and a final that will go down in the history of women’s T20. The tournament kicked off on January 9 at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, and the decisive match was held in Vadodara (Gujarat), where Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully chased down 204 runs to win their second title.
This season saw the first WPL mega auction, an event that changed the lineups of all five teams beyond recognition. Fans who followed the events through the BC Game login India, watched the odds on the championship leaders fluctuate after almost every serve.
The format remained the same: a double round-robin tournament (22 matches) among five teams, after which the best team immediately advanced to the final, and the second and third teams competed for a place in the playoffs. The total prize fund was ₹9 crore. The winner received ₹6 crore, and the runner-up received ₹3 crore.
Full Schedule – Venues and Format
The tournament was held at two venues, which allowed the season to be divided into two stages. The first ten matches were hosted by Navi Mumbai, and the final stage was hosted by Vadodara:
- January 9, Match 1 – Mumbai Indians vs. RCB, DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai. RCB won by 3 wickets.
- January 10, Matches 2-3 – Double Header: UP Warriorz vs. Gujarat Giants and MI vs. Delhi Capitals.
- January 12, Match 5 – RCB vs. UP Warriorz. RCB’s crushing victory by 9 wickets was a wake-up call for the Warriorz.
- January 17 – the second and final day of the season’s double round.
- February 1 – the last match of the group stage.
- February 3 – Delhi Capitals vs. Gujarat Giants, Vadodara. DC won by 7 wickets.
- February 5 – Final: RCB vs. Delhi Capitals, BCA Stadium, Vadodara.
RCB finished the stage in first place, winning 6 out of 8 matches. This put them straight into the final, avoiding the Eliminator. Delhi Capitals, third in the table, took advantage of their chance through the playoffs and took revenge in the Eliminator for their group failures.
Key Matches of the Tournament
The 2026 season presented several matches that determined the teams’ tournament positions and psychological balance of power:
- RCB vs MI (match 1, January 9). The season surprised fans with a tense finish. MI scored 154/6, RCB responded with 157/7 and snatched victory by three wickets. Already in the first game, it became clear that Mandhani’s team was determined to fight for the title.
- RCB vs UP Warriorz (match 5, January 12). This is one of the most ambiguous games of the season opener. RCB won by a margin of nine wickets, and the revamped Warriorz lineup seemed unprepared for the challenge, despite their activity at the auction.
- Playoff match: DC vs Gujarat Giants (February 3). The Capitals stepped up in the playoffs despite their previous failures. Their seven-wicket victory over the Giants proved that DC are still dangerous in knockout matches.
- Final: RCB vs DC (February 5). DC set a final record of 203/4. RCB’s response was historic: the partnership between Mandhani and Georgia Wall (165 runs) turned the match around. The victory was 204/4 in 19.4 overs, the highest successful chase in WPL history.
Squad Changes After the Mega Auction
On November 27, 2025, the WPL mega auction took place in New Delhi. 277 players competed for 73 spots on the teams. The total pool of funds for the teams was ₹41.1 crore. As a result, the auction led to radical changes in all five teams.
The most expensive deal was Dipti Sharma, who was re-signed by UP Warriorz for ₹3.2 crore after a fierce battle with several clubs. This is the second-largest contract in the history of the league.
Mumbai Indians strengthened their squad with Amelia Kerr, adding a world-class all-rounder to their championship roster. The Warriorz went for a radical rebuild, signing Meg Lanning for ₹1.9 crore and retaining only Shweta Sehravt from last season.
For RCB, one of the key decisions was the modest but accurate choice of Georgia Wall. She later played a decisive role in the final. Delhi Capitals returned to the market, investing in Shikha Pandey for ₹2.4 crore, which came as a surprise to many.
The main surprises of the auction were Aylissa Healy and Heather Knight. Both stars were left without contracts due to doubts about their physical fitness and long-term stability. Against this backdrop, Gujarat Giants completely reformatted their roster, creating an Australian-New Zealand core with Sophie Devine, Yastika Bhatia, and Kim Garth.
Results and Conclusions
WPL 2026 confirmed several patterns in women’s T20 cricket. First, team stability outweighs superstar lineups. UP Warriorz, with the largest budget and names like Lanning and Ecclestone, lost to a team with a familiar core. Second, Delhi Capitals cemented their reputation as the “final” underachievers: four finals in a row and not a single title. Third, Smriti Mandhana proves season after season that she is the best player in the WPL regardless of the format and opponent.
The next WPL season will take place in early 2027. There is a possibility that the league will expand to six teams, as co-owner of Delhi Capitals Parth Jindal has openly stated. If this happens, the 2027 auction will be even more intense and even more unpredictable.
