Two Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 matches will be conducted without audience presence at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai. In a newly released statement from WPL, no spectators will be allowed entry to watch the matches on January 14 and 15. The decision was taken in light of the municipal corporation elections scheduled in Navi Mumbai on January 15. The police personnel have informed the Board of Cricket Control (BCCI) on failure to provide any security during the cricket matches.
The Delhi Capitals vs. UP Warriorz match scheduled on January 14, and the Mumbai Indians vs. UP Warriorz on January 15 will be played in empty stadiums. However, the spectators will be allowed entry in the remaining matches of the tournament that follows these two, which is from the January 16 match scheduled between Gujarat Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
The statement by WPL read, “WPL 2026 matches scheduled for January 14 and January 15, at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, will be conducted behind closed doors, without spectators. This decision has been taken in light of the Municipal Corporation Elections in Navi Mumbai on January 15, 2026. Spectators will be permitted entry into the stadium from January 16 onwards, and all subsequent matches will be played with crowds in attendance.”
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, on Monday, January 12, in an interview, said, “We may have to host those two matches (on January 14 and 15) without any crowd. We are contemplating that idea after the police intimation, but as of now, no decision has been taken.”
On November 29, 2025, the schedule of the WPL 2026 was released, but the election date was not made public until December 15. Soon after the election date was confirmed and announced in public, the WPL committee was made aware of the decision. The WPL inaugural match was played on Friday, January 9, which saw a packed audience in the Navi Mumbai stadium.
After DY Patil, the tournament will change its venue to Vadodara, starting from the January 19 match between Gujarat Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru till the remainder of the season.
RCB Women are currently the top team in the points table with a net run rate of 1.964. Following them in second place is the Mumbai Indians with four points and a net run rate of 0.901. GG take the third spot with four points and a net run rate of 0.105, while Delhi Capitals and UP Warriorz take the fourth and fifth place in the points table with zero wins and negative run rates.
