The Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 season opens with a clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru, led by Smriti Mandhana, and defending champions Mumbai Indians, captained by Harmanpreet Kaur. Both captains, who share a camaraderie, expressed their competitive spirit ahead of the match. Mandhana recalled the World Cup win at the same venue and highlighted the WPL's role in improving player strategies and reducing the gap with international talent.