The Mumbai Indians Women will go up against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai in the first match of the tournament. This WPL 2026 Match Prediction sets the stage for a high-voltage season opener between two former champions.
Both teams come into WPL 2026 with strong squads and confident leadership. Mumbai Indians have stuck to their proven core, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru have added fresh options to boost balance. With match-winners on both sides, this clash promises a competitive start.
Mumbai Indians enter the season as the most successful team in WPL history. Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, MI rely on experienced all-rounders like Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr, and Hayley Matthews, giving them depth in both batting and bowling.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru, captained by Smriti Mandhana, will be aiming to reclaim the title after their 2024 triumph. With explosive batters and a spin-heavy bowling unit, RCB will look to make an early statement in the tournament.
Match Details
| Match | Mumbai Indians Women vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women |
| Tournament | Women’s Premier League, 2026 |
| Date & Time | Friday, 09 January 2026, 7:30 PM (IST) |
| Venue | Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai |
| Broadcast & Live Stream | Star Sports Network & JioHotstar app/website |
Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai – Pitch Report
The pitch at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy usually offers a fair contest between bat and ball. Batters enjoy the early bounce, while spinners get some help later. With dew expected in night games, teams often prefer chasing here.
MI-W vs RCB-W Head to Head Records ahead of 1st Match of WPL 2026
| Matches Played | 7 |
| Won by Mumbai Indians | 4 |
| Won by Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 3 |
| No Result | 0 |
MI-W vs RCB-W Current Form (Last 5 Matches)
| Team | Last Five Matches | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MI-W | W | W | L | W | W |
| RCB-W | W | L | L | L | L |
MI-W vs RCB-W Predicted Playing XIs
Mumbai Indians Women
Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), G Kamalini (Wicketkeeper), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Nicola Carey, Poonam Khemnar, Shabnim Ismail, Sanskriti Gupta, Sajana Sajeevan, and Saika Ishaque.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women
Smriti Mandhana (Captain), Grace Harris, Dayalan Hemalatha, Richa Ghosh (Wicketkeeper), Radha Yadav, Nadine De Klerk, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Prema Rawat, Linsey Smith, and Lauren Bell.
MI-W vs RCB-W Probable Top Performers
Harmanpreet Kaur
The MI captain is a proven big-match player and one of the top run-scorers in WPL history. Her leadership and batting control the tempo of the innings.
Smriti Mandhana
RCB’s skipper sets the tone at the top. A strong start from her can put MI under pressure early in the game.
Nat Sciver-Brunt
A key all-rounder for MI, she can change matches with both bat and ball, especially in crunch situations.
Shabnim Ismail
Known for raw pace, Ismail’s early wickets can disrupt RCB’s powerful batting order.
Amelia Kerr
Her leg-spin and handy runs down the order add balance to MI, making her a vital player in this opener.
MI-W vs RCB-W Key Player Battles
Smriti Mandhana vs Shabnim Ismail
This powerplay contest could decide the early momentum. Mandhana’s attacking style against Ismail’s pace will be one to watch.
Harmanpreet Kaur vs Shreyanka Patil
The middle-overs battle between experience and youth could swing the game either way.
Ellyse Perry vs Nat Sciver-Brunt
Two elite all-rounders facing off, their performances with bat and ball may shape the final result.
MI-W vs RCB-W Toss Prediction
The team winning the toss is expected to bowl first. Dew in evening matches often helps the chasing side, making it easier to control the run chase under lights.
Mumbai Indians Women vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women Match Prediction – Who Will Win?
Mumbai Indians appear to have a slight edge in this WPL 2026 opener due to their settled core and depth in all-rounders. While RCB have match-winners, MI’s balance and experience in pressure games give them better winning chances, especially if they get to chase.