A few years back, after the huge success of IPL, which is a men’s league. BCCI has decided to start a cricket league for women’s cricketers. We have already seen three seasons of the WPL, and MI has won it twice, while RCB has won it once.
Fans are ready for the 4th season. On January 9, 2026, two of the best women’s cricket teams will play against each other. Mumbai Indians Women and Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women will start the WPL 2026 season with the inaugural game. This is the first match of the tournament, and it will be very special. You can visit the platform like 7crickets, for further updates on WPL betting, tickets, predictions, and lot more.
Know About the Teams
Mumbai Indians Women – The Champions
- Mumbai Indians are the defending champions. They won the WPL in 2023 and again in 2025.
- The team is led by their strong World Cup-winning captain, Harmanpreet Kaur.
- MI have awesome players like Nat Sciver-Brunt who can hit big shots and take wickets.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women – The Previous Winners
- RCB won the WPL title in 2024. They have a great captain named Smriti Mandhana.
- She is known for playing beautiful cricket shots and leading her team well. Smriti is one of the best batters in women’s cricket today.
- RCB has Richa Ghosh, who is a good wicket keeper and batter.
- They also have Ellyse Perry, who is one of the best all-round players in the world.
What Happened Before?
In IPL, also MI & RCB games have a more fan following, and social media buzz among fans. MI and RCB have played each other many times in the WPL. Sometimes MI won, and sometimes RCB won. In their most recent games, both teams showed that they can beat each other. This shows that the match will be very tight and exciting. Both teams know how to play well, so expect a close game on January 9.
Our Prediction for the Match
This is a tough match to predict because both teams are very good. As per many experts, Mumbai Indians have a small chance to win, because they have won the last title, and their team is playing with confidence. The team has great all-round players who can handle any situation. However, RCB is also very strong and can win easily. Smriti Mandhana and Ellyse Perry can change the game at any time.
Betting Odds and Tips for WPL 2026
Many people like to bet on cricket matches through betting platforms. Popular platforms like Stake, Pin-up have betting options for WPL matches. Here are some tips if you want to bet on this match:
- Team Bet: You can bet on which team will win the whole match. Mumbai Indians have slightly better odds because they won the last season.
- Run Betting: You can bet on how many runs will be scored in the match. In WPL, teams usually score between 150 and 180 runs.
- Player Betting: You can also bet on which player will score the most runs or which player will take the most wickets. Watch for Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Amelia Kerr.
- Top Batter: You can guess who will score the highest in the match. Smriti Mandhana or Harmanpreet Kaur often do this.
How to Get Tickets for the Match?
Do you want to watch this match live at the stadium. You can buy tickets easily. Here’s how:
Where to Buy Tickets?
You can buy tickets from these places:
- Official WPL website
- WPL Mobile App (available on Android and iOS)
- District website (The official ticketing partner)
Ticket Price:
Ticket prices depend on the part of the stadium at which you want to watch the game.
Other Matches in WPL 2026
The WPL 2026 will have many matches from January 9 to February 5. The tournament has two phases:
- Phase 1 – Navi Mumbai (January 9 to 17): 11 matches will be played here, including the big opening game between MI and RCB.
- Phase 2 – Vadodara (January 19 to February 5): The remaining 11 matches will be here, plus the big final match.
MI and RCB will play each other again on January 26 in Vadodara. This second match will also be very important.
How to Watch the Match?
You can watch this match in two ways:
- On Television: The match will be shown on Star Sports Network. You can watch it on any TV that has Star Sports.
- Online: You can watch it on JioHotstar app. Download the app on your phone or tablet and watch the match live.
Final Thoughts
The MI vs RCB match can be expected to be a great cricket game. Both teams are strong and want to start the season with a win. Tickets are cheap, and you can buy them easily online. If you love cricket, you must watch this match.
Whether you watch on TV, online, or go to the stadium, you will see great cricket. The players will give their best, and fans will get excited. You can get further cricket updates, betting predictions, tickets information, and lot more at platforms like 7crickets, stake, pin-up, etc.
