RCB W vs MI W WPL 2026: What to Expect and Where to Watch

RCB W vs MI W WPL 2026: Royal Challengers Bengaluru will face defending champions Mumbai Indians in the opening match of the Women’s Premier League 2026. The match will be played on Friday at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.

RCB-W and MI-W have played each other seven times in the Women’s Premier League. MI-W leads the head-to-head record with four wins, while RCB-W has won three matches. None of their games have ended with no result. 

In the last five WPL matches between the two teams, RCB has won three games. During the previous season, the teams met twice. The first match was played in Bengaluru, where the Mumbai Indians won by four wickets. The second match took place at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, where Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured a close 11-run win.

The DY Patil Stadium pitch in Navi Mumbai is known to be bouncy and true. About 200 tonnes of soil from South Africa were used to prepare the surface. This helps batters play their shots freely and also gives good pace and bounce to fast bowlers. 

The RCB-W vs MI-W match on Friday, 9 January 2026 is expected to be played in clear and sunny weather. The minimum temperature is likely to be around 20°C and the maximum close to 30°C. There is no rain expected during the day or at night.

RCB W vs MI W Women’s Premier League 2026: What to expect?

RCB have been dealing with a noticeable gap in recent days because Ellyse Perry has not been part of the squad. Perry was part of the team for three consecutive seasons, and her absence has been a major talking point ahead of the new WPL season. Across 26 matches in three seasons, RCB have played only once without Perry, and that match ended in a loss. Despite Smriti Mandhana scoring 74 off 43 balls, RCB failed to chase a target of 195 against Delhi Capitals at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

However, Mandhana’s WPL numbers have not matched her international form. In 26 WPL matches, she has scored 646 runs at an average of 24.84 and a strike rate of 128.68, with four half-centuries. Their bowling attack includes Lauren Bell, Arundhati Reddy, Pooja Vastrakar, Shreyanka Patil, Linsey Smith, Radha Yadav, and Prema Rawat. 

Mumbai Indians, meanwhile, enter the season as favorites once again. The two-time champions bring a lot of experience, with Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, and Hayley Matthews all leading teams at the international level. They also have young talent like G. Kamalini, who could create selection challenges at the top of the order. In bowling, Mumbai Indians have strong options in Shabnim Ismail, Amelia Kerr, Milly Illingworth, and Saika Ishaque. 

RCB W vs MI W Women’s Premier League 2026: Predicted Playing 11

Here is the predicted team lineup of RCB W and MI W in the Women’s Premier League 2026:

RCB W vs MI W 2025 Women’s Premier League 2026: Where to watch

In India, the RCB W vs MI W match in the Women’s Premier League 2026 will be shown live on the Star Sports Network. The match will be available on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, and Star Sports Select 1.

Live streaming of the match will be available on the JioHotstar app and website, following the recent merger of the platforms.

FAQs

Q. Where is the RCB W vs MI W match?

A. The match will be played on Friday, 9 January 2026 at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.

Q. Who has the better head-to-head record in WPL?

A. Mumbai Indians Women lead with four wins, while RCB Women have three wins.

Q. What is the weather forecast for the match?

A. The weather is expected to be clear and sunny with no rain. The temperature may range between 20°C and 30°C.

Q. Where can fans watch the match live in India?

A. The match will be shown on the Star Sports Network and streamed on the JioHotstar app and website.

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