It’s the most wonderful time of the year. It’s time to dust off your Blue and Gold and get ready for three months of breakneck cricket through the Indian summer.

Kaptaan Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. are here first. Champions in 2023, losing by a whisker in the Eliminator in 2024. We’ve waited a year, nursing our wounds, training, getting better, with a fresh looking side. There’s a lot for us to avenge. Let’s begin with some of the usual FAQs, shall we?

The format: The first season of the WPL was played in one city. The second season spread to two. The third season is spreading to four. Vadodara, Bengaluru, Lucknow and Mumbai would be hosting this year’s WPL in a caravan format. The final is back in our city, at the Brabourne Stadium, a ground where we scripted history in 2023. 

The schedule: Let’s dive right in:

Feb 15 | Vadodara – vs Delhi Capitals

Feb 18 | Vadodara – vs Gujarat Giants

Feb 21 | Bengaluru – vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Feb 26 | Bengaluru – vs UP Warriorz

Feb 28 | Bengaluru – vs Delhi Capitals

Mar 6 | Lucknow – vs UP Warriorz

Mar 10 | Mumbai – vs Gujarat Giants

Mar 11 | Mumbai – vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Mar 13 | Mumbai – Eliminator

Mar 15 | Mumbai – Final

The timings: All matches are set to begin at 7:30pm IST. There are no double headers.  

The team: Mumbai Indians have added four new players to their squad through the auction: The South African all-rounder, Nadine de Klerk, India under-19 wicket-keeper and explosive young batter, Kamalini G, upcoming all-rounders in Sanskriti Gupta and Akshita Maheshwari. Pooja Vastrakar, who unfortunately hasn’t recovered from her injury, has been replaced with another under-19 World Cup winner, Parunika Sisodia.

The history: The Mumbai Indians family had a wonderful start to 2025 with MI Cape Town winning the SA20. This now means that we have won a title with each of our five teams. The 2023 WPL was one that Mumbai Indians absolutely bossed, finishing second on the points table in the league stage, breezing past UP Warriorz in the Eliminator, and then convincingly beating the Delhi Capitals in the Final to lift the silverware. In 2024 as well, we finished second on the points table, and then were in a very solid position during the chase in the Eliminator against RCB. Alas, we couldn’t get past the finish line in what ended up being a last-ball heartbreak.

Paltan, you know the drill. It’s time to put on your cape. It’s time to shout your lungs out in support. It’s time for the WPL!