A little more than two months after India clinched its maiden ICC women’s title at the 50-over World Cup at this venue, the D.Y. Patil Stadium will kickstart the 2026 edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL).

The elephant in the room: a T20 World Cup around the corner, where a jilted Indian side which fumbled at the final hurdle in 2020 is hoping to redeem itself.

When Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru kickstart proceedings in the tournament’s fourth chapter, the Indian think tank will have its eyes and ears open to see if one of the many players on the fringes of the Indian team makes a good enough elevator pitch for a return to the national side.

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Amol Muzumdar’s India has handed out debuts like candy to a slew of bowlers, a gamble that gave India Kranti Goud and Shree Charani, who played important roles in the team’s climb to the ODI summit. However, along the way, bowling has often been one-dimensional in variety.

India still lacks a solid leg-spinner in the squad. Asha Sobhana, who is returning to the WPL after missing 2025 due to injury, is one option. Even offie Shreyanka Patil will eye a solid return to the national setup. While Renuka Singh, Kranti, and Arundhati Reddy are regulars in the pace conversation, India could use options with greater accuracy and variations, particularly with the World Cup happening in seam-paradise England.

A settled and in-form batting order doesn’t allow much room for disruption. But India will hardly say no to an accomplished big hitter who can change the face of a team’s total.

Kiran Navgire, whose record-breaking run, season after season, in the domestic scene is yet to translate into tangible impact at a higher level, will want to right past wrongs.

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Richa Ghosh’s lack of competition in the wicketkeeping pool is a concerning development for India, with Uma Chetry and Yastika Bhatia off the radar. With G. Kamalini now being groomed as an option, a breakout season for her can give Richa the push she needs to improve and India the luxury of choice.

Beyond the trophies and rivalries, this WPL is a rolling audition—a chance for specialists to fill glaring gaps and for nearly-players to become indispensable. It may crown a champion in March, but for Indian cricket, the true prize might be a more complete, battle-ready side when the World Cup lights come on later this year.

Published on Jan 08, 2026