Three high-stakes Women's Premier League (WPL) encounters at Navi Mumbai's DY Patil Stadium, scheduled for January 14, 15, and 16, will unfold in front of empty stands.
This abrupt pivot to behind-closed-doors games underscores a critical clash between sporting spectacle and civic duties, as local police prioritise security for the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections on January 15.
The core issue boils down to depleted security manpower. With elections demanding full police deployment-including reinforcements pulled from other Maharashtra districts-authorities cited an inability to staff the stadium adequately. This forces organisers to nix crowds, a rare move in the cash-rich WPL ecosystem where fan energy fuels the franchise frenzy.
No official word has dropped yet, but the silence speaks volumes: ticketing partners like BookMyShow and others show zero availability for these fixtures, effectively confirming the fan blackout.
WPL 2026 Closed Door Fixtures
January 14: Delhi Capitals vs UP Warriorz
January 15: Mumbai Indians vs UP Warriorz
January 16: Gujarat Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Adding irony, the election announcement landed on December 15, over two weeks after the WPL schedule was unveiled on November 28. Critics question why BCCI and league planners didn't foresee this overlap, especially with Maharashtra's municipal polls long in the pipeline. Past instances, as IPL games rerouted for elections, highlight recurring friction between cricket's calendar and democratic imperatives.
After four thrilling days of Women's Premier League 2026 action, Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women and Gujarat Giants Women dominate the standings with perfect records. Delhi Capitals and UP Warriorz have lost both of their matches so far in the season.
