RCB to Open Title Defence Against Mumbai Indians as WPL 2027 Dates Are Confirmed

The Women's Premier League will return in January, with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru opening the fifth edition against Mumbai Indians. The Board of Control for Cricket in India confirmed the full schedule on Wednesday, with the tournament running from January 14 to February 7, 2027. The competition will be staged entirely across two venues. The Vadodara International Cricket Stadium will host the opening leg of 11 matches from January 14 to January 24, before the action moves to the Cricket Club of India's Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai for the remaining 11 matches, including the playoffs and the final on February 7. All 22 matches will begin at 7:30 PM IST. The opener is a meeting of the league's two most decorated sides. RCB are the defending champions and two-time winners, while Mumbai Indians have also lifted the trophy twice, and the pair will meet again to launch the Mumbai leg on January 26. Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz complete the five-team field. The announcement gives the five franchises a firm runway for the season ahead, with the Vadodara leg offering an early test of form before the title race moves to Mumbai. For RCB, the defence begins against the side they know best — the team that has shared the league's biggest occasions with them since its first season.