MI-W vs RCB-W Weather Report, Pitch Report of DY Patil stadium - match 1, WPL 2026

DY Patil sports academy, Navi Mumbai [Source: @SaGomesh/X]

On Friday, Mumbai Indians will cross swords against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the first match of the fourth Women's Premier League season. The highly anticipated encounter will take place at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. 

Mumbai Indians Women enjoyed stellar success in the 2025 season, clinching their second WPL title. They swatted aside Delhi Capitals by a narrow eight-run margin, adding another trophy to their illustrious cabinet. 

Talking about Mumbai Indians' WPL 2026 auction performance, the two-time champions bought their core players back, re-signing the likes of Amelia Kerr, Saika Ishaque and Shabnim Ismail. So, considering they have pretty much the same squad for the WPL 2026, we expect a dominating performance from the defending champions against RCB. 

On the other hand, Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women had a forgettable season in the WPL 2025, failing to qualify for the playoffs. The Red Brigade managed only three wins in eight fixtures, missing the playoffs after their triumphant run in the 2024 season. 

Despite signing several impactful players, including Nadine de Klerk, Georgia Voll, Grace Harris and Lauren Bell, RCB suffered a major setback when Ellyse Perry withdrew from the WPL 2026. 

As both teams prepare for a cracking season opener, here we explain the expected playing conditions, including the weather, as well as the pitch report of the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. 

Navi Mumbai Weather Report for MI-W vs RCB-W WPL 2026 match 1

[Source: Accuweather.com]

According to AccuWeather, the weather conditions at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai will be ideal for a cracking game of cricket on Friday evening. 

The temperature will remain around 22 degrees Celsius, while the wind will blow gently at 7 kilometres per hour. Although the skies in Navi Mumbai will witness a 14 per cent cloud cover, the chances of precipitation are nil. 

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DY Patil Stadium Pitch Report for MI-W vs RCB-W WPL 2026 match 1

(DY Patil Stadium stats in WPL)

The surface at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai might offer a hint of seam movement to the fast bowlers early on with the new ball. Considering it's the first WPL game of the 2026 edition, expect a relatively fresh track with a bit of assistance for the seam bowlers. 

However, the pitch will likely flatten and eventually turn into a batting beauty as the game progresses. So, the fast bowlers will likely rely on variations to succeed in the middle overs. 

The spinners might get some turn in the first innings; however, it will be tough to grip the ball in the second half when dew is expected to play a key role. Considering the playing conditions, we reckon the toss will be crucial, and the team that wins it will likely bowl first. 

Conclusion

As explained above, the weather conditions will likely be ideal for cricket at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, and we anticipate a humdinger between MI-W and RCB-W. Meanwhile, the surface will most likely be batting-friendly with some assistance for the bowlers in the first half. 

So, considering the nature of the pitch as well as the fact that the chasing sides have won eight out of eleven WPL matches in Navi Mumbai, the team batting second will start as the favourites to emerge victorious in this clash. 

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