5 players to watch out for in WPL 2026 season

From proven match-winners to explosive young stars, here are five players to watch out for in the WPL 2026 season as teams gear up for another high-octane Women’s Premier League campaign.

Smriti Mandhana and Nat Sciver-Brunt (Image Credit: WPL)

The Women's Premier League (WPL) started in 2023 and now has gained a huge fanbase as a T20 league in the world. Inspired from IPL, the BCCI took a huge step in giving the women the same stage like their male counterparts, making sure that they don't miss any opportunity of growing as players. Now, after three years, WPL has managed to keep the audience hooked to their seats, just like every other T20 leagues in the world.

This is indeed a huge victory for the board as well as the players who made it possible with their grit, enthusiasm, and hard work. There are many players who have put a lot of effort throughout the last three seasons but we will talk about the top five cricketers in this article.

Top 5 players to watch out for in WPL 2026 season

1. Nat Sciver-Brunt (Mumbai Indians)

Nat Sciver-Brunt is one of the WPL’s most prolific run-scorers, topping the charts with 1,027 runs in 29 matches at a 141.85 strike rate since the league began. Her all-round ability and consistency make her a key WPL 2026 contender.

Playing for Mumbai Indians, she has always always been in an incredible form and that is the reason why she has scored the highest run-scorers in the WPL. The fans will be looking forward to watching her in action soon.

2. Ellyse Perry (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)

Ellyse Perry has been a standout batter in the WPL, accumulating 972 runs in 25 innings with a 132.97 strike rate and a strong average close to 64.8 in league history. Her experience and power make her a serious threat this season.

The Australian cricketer has been incredible with her skills and has many fans in the WPL. The RCB fans are waiting to see the players back in action and fight for another trophy in the upcoming WPL.

Also read: Virat Kohli spotted at Mumbai Airport as he heads to Bengaluru to play Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26

3. Shafali Verma (Delhi Capitals)

Explosive at the top, Shafali Verma has scored 865 runs in 27 matches with the highest strike rate (162.59) in WPL history, giving her team quick starts and momentum. Her aggressive style ensures she’s one to watch in 2026.

Fans have missed her batting in the powerplays and are waiting to watch her live once again. Shafali has been an incredible contributor in the WPL and hence, is one of the players to watch out for this season.

4. Smriti Mandhana (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)

India’s Smriti Mandhana has amassed 646 WPL runs in 26 innings with a 128.69 strike rate, anchoring RCB’s batting over multiple seasons. Her blend of finesse and power will be crucial as her team aims for another deep run.

The batter gives great starts and also manages to hold partnerships with other players which is also one of the reasons behind RCB's strong performance in the WPL. The fans are eagerly waiting to watch her in action once again.

5. Sophie Ecclestone (UP Warriorz)

Sophie Ecclestone has been one of the WPL’s best all-rounders, consistently troubling batters with spin and finishing seasons near the top of wicket lists. She has played in 25 matches and scored 187 runs at an average of 11.69. Moreover, she has taken 36 wickets overall and has been a great help for the team.

The all-rounder has played some stellar knocks and given breakthroughs that has helped the team in many games. Hence, she is one of the players to watch out for in the upcoming WPL 2026.

Also read: Former India bowler blames Test series loss against SA on Kohli-Rohit transition, makes eye-opening claim

Share