Aakash Chopra’s Predictions for the 2026 Women’s Premier League

Delhi Capitals: Strong Favorites for the Title

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has backed the Delhi Capitals (DC) to clinch the title in the upcoming 2026 Women’s Premier League. He believes that the team’s consistent performance over the last three seasons, reaching the finals each time, positions them as strong favorites. Under new captain Jemimah Rodrigues, Chopra expressed optimism during his talk on JioStar, stating, “I think Delhi Capitals will win this time around. They have assembled a well-balanced squad.”

Smriti Mandhana: Aiming for the Orange Cap

Chopra also predicts that Smriti Mandhana, the captain of Royal Challengers (RCB) Bengaluru, will dominate the batting charts this season. He emphasizes her key role in the team and considers her a frontrunner for the Orange Cap. “I think it could be RCB captain, Smriti Mandhana, to score the most number of runs this WPL season. She might even win it,” Chopra remarked, showcasing his faith in her batting prowess.

Rising Stars: Shafali Verma and Shree Charani

While praising Mandhana, Chopra highlighted Shafali Verma, the aggressive opener for Delhi Capitals, as another strong contender for the top run-scorer award. He noted, “Alongside her, I feel Shafali Verma could be a strong contender as well.”

Furthermore, for the Emerging Player award, Chopra favors young spinner Shree Charani. “I think Shree Charani might win the Emerging Player of the Season award. She had a fantastic World Cup, and I feel she will be the tournament’s best spinner,” he added.

Player of the Tournament: Deepti Sharma’s Consistency

Chopra did not hold back when discussing major individual honors, specifically mentioning Deepti Sharma. He believes she is likely to secure a hat-trick of Player of the Tournament awards. “The form she is in currently is unstoppable, and since she has started excelling in the WPL, her overall game has significantly improved,” Chopra noted.

Opening Clash Prediction: Mumbai Indians vs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Looking ahead to the season opener between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on January 9, Chopra sided with Mumbai Indians. “I will go with Mumbai Indians for this clash. There is very little to choose between the two sides, but I believe Mumbai will come out on top,” he concluded.

With these insights from Aakash Chopra, the anticipation for the 2026 Women’s Premier League continues to grow, promising an exciting season ahead.