They have won two titles in three seasons.
The reigning champions, Mumbai Indians (MI), will be gunning for back-to-back titles in the upcoming Women’s Premier League edition, which begins on January 9. Ahead of the season, we bring you the Mumbai Indians WPL 2026 preview with all you need to know.
Harmanpreet Kaur, who has led the team to two championships in three years, will continue to be the captain. The franchise had to rebuild their squad in the mega auction, and they have done a reasonable job in bringing back as many of their players as they could.
Mumbai Indians are a franchise that is high on having familiar faces. They retained Harmanpreet, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amanjot Kaur, Hayley Matthews, and G Kamalini ahead of the mega auction. MI went into the auction to replicate their title-winning squad. They managed to do so by bringing in the likes of Amelia Kerr, Shabnim Ismail, Saika Ishaque, and Sajeevan Sajana.
Check out the full Mumbai Indians WPL 2026 squad.
Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Matthews, Amanjot Kaur, Amelia Kerr, G Kamalini, Sajeevan Sajana, Shabnim Ismail, Saika Ishaque, Sanskriti Gupta, Triveni Vasistha, Nalla Reddy, Rahila Firdous, Poonam Khemnar, Nicola Carey, and Milly Illingworth.
MI will kick off their campaign with the season opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on January 9. They will play five league games in Navi Mumbai and three in Vadodara. Here’s the full list of Mumbai Indians WPL 2026 fixtures:
| Date | Opposition | Venue | Time (IST) |
| 9 Jan 2026 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Navi Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 10 Jan 2026 | Delhi Capitals | Navi Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 13 Jan 2026 | Gujarat Giants | Navi Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 15 Jan 2026 | UP Warriorz | Navi Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| 17 Jan 2026 | UP Warriorz | Navi Mumbai | 3:30 PM |
| 20 Jan 2026 | Delhi Capitals | Vadodara | 7:30 PM |
| 26 Jan 2026 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Vadodara | 7:30 PM |
| 30 Jan 2026 | Gujarat Giants | Vadodara | 7:30 PM |
Looking at the Mumbai Indians squad, their likely four overseas starters will be Sciver-Brunt, Matthews, Kerr, and Ismail. The Mumbai Indians best XI could look like:
MI decided to rely on their tried and tested formula that got them two trophies in three seasons. However, the squad has some serious problems.
Their biggest issue would be the lower middle order that does not have the firepower or experience. They boast of a quality bowling attack with good variety, which should keep them competitive. However, the batting unit relies heavily on Nat Sciver-Brunt and Harmanpreet Kaur.
To conclude, MI should reach the playoffs, but the title chances depend on how well Matthews and Kerr do with the bat.
The two-time champions have a few star players that they will depend on heavily. Let’s take a look at the key players for Mumbai Indians WPL 2026 campaign.
Nat Sciver-Brunt has been one of the pillars for the team with her all-round skill set. She has amassed 1,027 runs in the league at an average of 46 while striking at 142. She has also taken 32 wickets with her medium-pace bowling at an economy of 7.66. The best in the business, anchoring at No.3 or four guaranteed overs, Sciver-Brunt is too valuable.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur has shown a remarkable ability to come clutch, and she will yet again be vital for their season. She has scored 851 runs in the league at an average of 40.52 and a strike rate of 143, including eight half-centuries. Harman provides them stability and firepower at number four.
Hayley Matthews is a world-class athlete with proven performances all over the globe. In the WPL, however, her bat has under-delivered. She has 758 runs in the league at 27 average and 121 strike rate. Matthews has been excellent with her off-spin bowling, claiming 41 wickets at 7.24 RPO. MI will hope for better returns from her with the bat.
The leg-spin all-rounder has taken 40 wickets in the competition at an economy of 7.64. But much like Matthews, Amelia Kerr hasn’t delivered to her potential with the bat. That is partly down to her batting out of her natural position. Her performance with the bat could be key for the Mumbai Indians WPL 2026 campaign.
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