Defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) will launch the tournament in a thrilling opener against the 2024 winners Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the DY Patil Stadium. With five world-class franchises competing in 22 matches, the league continues to cement its status as the premier global platform for women’s T20 cricket. Fans are especially curious to see whether a new leader or a returning powerhouse will claim the trophy February 5 in the Vadodara final.
Aakash Chopra picks the winner of the 2026 WPL
Former Indian cricketer and analyst Akash Chopra has made a bold prediction and the Capitals of Delhi (DC) to finally secure their first title in 2026. Despite reaching the finals in all three previous seasons, DC have famously struggled at the final hurdle, losing twice to Mumbai and once to RCB.
Chopra noted in JioStar’s ‘TATA WPL 2026 Predictions’ that the Capitals have “put together a very good squad” and deserve to break their spell after being consistent finalists. This year, the team leaves the veteran leadership of Meg Lanning and enters a new era Rodrogus agrees. The young Indian star is riding a huge wave of momentum after her ‘instant classic’ 127 off 134 balls* against Australia in the semi-final of the 2025 World Cup, helping India chase down a record 339 to eventually claim the world title.
“I think Delhi Capitals will win this time. They have put together a very good team and have reached all three finals. Let them win it once,” Chopra said on Star Sports.
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The race for the orange cap in the WPL 2026
When it comes to individual brilliance, Chopra has identified RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana as the “frontrunner” to achieve the Orange Cap for most runs this season. Mandhana is coming off a legendary calendar year of 2025, in which she became the first woman to score more than 1,700 runs in a single year across formats, and recently surpassed 10,000 international runs. While her WPL average of 24.84 is modest compared to her international standards, her recent form, including centuries in all three formats in 2025, suggests a huge breakthrough season is on the horizon.
However, Chopra was quick to call DC opener Shafali Verma as a powerful threat to Mandhana’s ambitions. Shafali is currently the fourth highest run-getter in WPL history with 865 runs at a staggering strike rate of 162.59, and after finishing 2025 with a T20I average of 52.12, she remains the most explosive weapon in Delhi’s arsenal.
“I think it could be RCB captain Smriti Mandhana who scores the most runs this WPL season. Smriti Mandhana could be the frontrunner in the race to win the Orange Cap and might even win it. Besides her, I think Shafali Verma, who will open for the Delhi Capitals, could also be a strong contender.”
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This article was first published on WomenCricket.coma Cricket Times company.
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