WPL 2026 To Be Played In Navi Mumbai & Vadodara, No Home-Away Format Yet: Reports

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is strongly considering Mumbai and Baroda as the host cities for the fourth season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in early 2026. 

According to reports in Cricbuzz, one of the key venues is likely to be the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, which holds sentimental value for many Indian women cricketers and previously hosted the Women’s World Cup final. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana even wrote “Jai DY Patil” (Hail DY Patil) on her Instagram stories after winning the World Cup there. 

The tournament could be split into two legs: the first part in Mumbai and the second in Vadodara, with the Kotambi Stadium expected to host the later stages, including the final. The Vadodara leg is tentatively scheduled to begin around January 16, following a men’s ODI between India and New Zealand in the city on January 11.

While the BCCI has not yet formally told franchise owners, these plans are being discussed internally. The five teams are likely to be notified of the venue details during the WPL auction, which is scheduled for November 27 in New Delhi. 

Regarding dates, the WPL is expected to run from January 7 to February 3, 2026, although official confirmation is still pending. This marks a shift from previous seasons, which generally took place in February and March. 

Additionally, the reports also indicate that January is also being eyed as a permanent window for the WPL, helping avoid clashes with other major cricket leagues and the ICC’s Future Tours Programme.