The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 is set to set the cricket world on fire as it enters its fourth blockbuster season January 9. This edition promises a new competitive edge after the high-priced mega-auction and the move to the historic venue. Navi Mumbai and They went.
The defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) The 2024 winners Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will begin the tournament in a high-octane opening game at the DY Patil Stadium. With five world-class franchises competing across 22 matches, the league continues to cement its status as the premier global platform for women’s T20 cricket. Fans are especially keen to see if a new leader or a repeat powerhouse will challenge for the trophy. February 5 In the Vadodara final.
Aakash Chopra picks the WPL 2026 winner
Former Indian cricketer and analyst Akash Chopra made a bold prediction Delhi Capitals (DC) To finally secure his first title in 2026. Despite reaching the final in all three previous seasons, DC struggled at the final hurdle, losing twice to Mumbai and once to RCB.
In JioStar’s “TATA WPL 2026 Predictions”, Chopra noted that the Capitals “have assembled a very good squad” and deserve to break their grudge after being back-to-back finalists. This year, the team moves away from the veteran leadership of Meg Lanning and enters a new era. Rodrogue. The young Indian star is riding a huge wave of momentum after his ‘instant classic’. 134 off 127 balls* The 2025 World Cup semi-final against Australia helped India chase down a record-breaking 339 and eventually became the world champions.
“I think Delhi Capitals will win this time. They have built a very good squad and have reached the final three times. Let them win once.” Chopra said on Star Sports.
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Race for the Orange Hat at WPL 2026
In terms of individual brilliance, Chopra set the RCB captaincy Smriti Mandhana As the “leading scorer” in scoring the most runs in the Orange Cap this season. Mandhana is coming off a legendary calendar year of 2025, where she became the first woman to score more than 1,700 runs across formats in a single year and recently crossed the 10,000 international run mark. While his WPL average of 24.84 is modest by international standards, his recent form, including centuries in all three formats in 2025, suggests a massive breakout season is imminent.
However, Chopra was quick to name the DC key Shafali Verma As a strong threat to Mandhana’s ambitions. Shafali currently sits as the fourth highest run-getter in WPL history with 865 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 162.59 and remains the most explosive weapon in Delhi’s arsenal after finishing 2025 with a T20I average of 52.12.
“I think RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana could be the top run-scorer in this WPL season. Smriti Mandhana can be the frontrunner in the race to win the Orange Cap and may even win it. Along with her, Shafali Verma who will open for Delhi Capitals can be a strong contender.”
This article was originally published here WomenCricket.coma Cricket Times company.
