Due to the municipal elections in Navi Mumbai on January 15, many matches of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 are likely to be played behind closed doors, with no spectators allowed. The BCCI may be forced to proceed without fans, as the police will not be able to provide adequate security in Mumbai.
The WPL schedule was announced on 29 November, well before the municipal election date of 15 December was made public. Notably, the WPL committee was informed, but there was little time left to change plans. This made it difficult to rearrange logistics for the matches to be held in Navi Mumbai.
WPL matches likely to be played behind closed doors amid election security concerns
Many WPL matches remain uncertain due to security concerns around the municipal election period. The most affected matches are Delhi Capitals vs UP Warriors on January 14 and Mumbai Indians vs UP Warriors on January 15, which are likely to be played without spectators.
There is no clear update yet on whether fans will be allowed for the Gujarat Giants vs Royal Challengers Bangalore match on January 16.
This uncertainty is also reflected in ticketing. The official Women’s Premier League ticketing platform has not released tickets for the matches on 14, 15 and 16 January.
According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, the police have formally informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India that the election duties will strain security resources, making it impossible to provide adequate security on polling day.
As a result, matches on January 15 will be held behind closed doors, while the games on January 14 and January 16 are still awaiting clarity.
We may have to host matches without crowds – BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia
The Women’s Premier League matches scheduled for January 15 will be played without spectators, while a final decision for the January 14 and January 16 games is still pending. There is no confirmation yet whether the Gujarat Giants vs Royal Challengers Bangalore match on January 16 will also take place behind closed doors or not.
BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia said that the board is considering holding the matches on January 14 and 15 without spectators after getting inputs from the police. However, he said no official decision has been taken yet and discussions are still ongoing.
“We may have to hold those two matches (on January 14 and 15) without any crowd. We are considering the idea after being informed by the police, but no decision has been taken yet,” BCCI secretary Devjit Saikia told Sportstar on Monday.
WPL is ready to move from Navi Mumbai to Vadodara after January 17
WPL Season 4 is scheduled to be played at two venues. The opening leg is being held at the DY Patil Stadium, while the second leg and the final will be held in Vadodara. DY Patil Stadium is a regular venue for women’s cricket and usually attracts large crowds for WPL matches.
Tickets are already on sale for the January 17 double-header at the DY Patil Stadium, featuring Mumbai Indians vs UP Warriors, followed by Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru. This suggests that restrictions on crowds may ease after the election period.
After the January 17 matches, the tournament will shift to Vadodara for the remainder of the season. No restrictions have been imposed on spectators for the Vadodara leg, with operations going smoothly as the league progresses.
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