Mumbai, 7 January – The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 is set to begin on 9 January. World Cup-winning captain Harmanpreet Kaur leads the Mumbai Indians (MI) team. According to her, the team is well balanced this season, and there is no need for unnecessary changes.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Harmanpreet Kaur said, “We like playing together and also enjoy competing against each other. This season, we are going in with a positive mindset. Teams are very well balanced, and the competition will be tough. We will enjoy playing.”

She added, “The more cricket you play, the more your confidence grows. Playing on different platforms boosts confidence further. The WPL has strong competition where players perform well. If you perform well there, you face international-level players. Performing well against such players stays in everyone’s mind as a mark of quality.”

Harmanpreet also emphasized the importance of nurturing young talent. “Every season, we try to bring in the best young talent and give them opportunities. This season, we have selected the best available players who fit well into our team. We hope to provide them with a platform to showcase their best.”

The Mumbai Indians, two-time WPL champions having won the 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons, face added responsibilities as leaders. Harmanpreet stated, “Our mindset remains consistent across platforms. Winning two trophies does not make us relax; it adds responsibility. Everyone knows this team can win any tournament. We aim to play good cricket this season as well.”

Mumbai Indians will play their opening match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on 9 January at the D.Y. Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. Harmanpreet said, “We have played a lot of cricket at the D.Y. Patil stadium, including World Cup matches, so we know the conditions well. It is a good batting pitch with high-scoring games. We need to bat freely. I think it will be a bit challenging for bowlers.”

She further commented on the team composition, “We have chosen a lot of young talent this season. I believe whoever gets a chance will perform well. Our team is very balanced. We have not made many changes in the last three years. There is no point in making unnecessary changes in a team that consistently delivers good results. This season, if the young players fit well and prove themselves in the initial matches, they will have a great opportunity to perform.”