Rival captains — Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Smriti Mandhana and Mumbai Indians’ Harmanpreet Kaur eye the big prize during a press conference in Navi Mumbai on January 8, 2026 on the eve of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) opening Twenty20 cricket match.
| Photo Credit: AFP
Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana are diametrically opposite public personalities. Smriti can find the humour in every situation, while the aggressive batter that Harmanpreet is on the field gives way to an astute defender in front of a microphone.
The Indian captain and deputy, the only two victorious skippers in the Women’s Premier League, will headline the opening clash of the 2026 chapter between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and defending champion Mumbai Indians at the D.Y. Patil Stadium here on Friday.
Their endearing camaraderie aside, Smriti promptly said, “It’s not a bad thing to win matches against your friends. I hope she does well, but we win.”
The WPL brings back the World Cup-winning Indian team, now scattered across five franchises, back to D.Y. Patil Stadium, the very venue of that famous title triumph.
“The only conversation around the World Cup I had was with the groundsman. I asked him if this is the semifinal wicket or the final wicket,” Smriti quipped before adding,
“Whenever we enter the ground, we remember where the last catch was taken and what happened after that. Even if we return after 20 years, it will all be clear for us. Maybe tomorrow, if she (Harmanpreet) is standing at covers, I’ll tell my team not to hit there.
“We are not satisfied with just one World Cup. Not just us, other players are also strategising with this mindset. That shows the impact the WPL has had. They are playing with and against overseas players, and the gap that existed before isn’t [there] any more.”
Published – January 08, 2026 08:30 pm IST
