Will the Women's Premier League Matches Be Played Without Fans? BCCI Weighs Options
BCCI Considers Closed-Door Matches Amid Elections
Navi Mumbai: Devajit Saikia, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has indicated that two matches in the ongoing Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 may proceed without spectators due to the upcoming elections for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC).
With a significant number of security personnel assigned to election duties, managing crowds on January 14 and 15 could pose challenges. Consequently, the BCCI is deliberating whether to permit fans at the DY Patil stadium for the matches featuring Delhi Capitals against UP Warriorz and Mumbai Indians against UP Warriorz, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
In contrast, fans will be welcomed at the match between Gujarat Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru on January 16, as the BCCI secretary clarified that the counting day is not a concern.
Saikia stated, “With elections on January 15, we are evaluating whether the WPL matches can occur without an audience on January 14 and the polling day. We will issue a public notice once a decision is made. Matches will proceed as planned, but we are still discussing crowd attendance. The 16th is excluded from this consideration since it is the counting day.”
The WPL schedule was announced on November 29, while the election timetable was revealed on December 15. It appears that WPL organizers were notified shortly after the election dates were confirmed.
The opening match on Friday attracted a nearly full crowd, and the weekend's double-header saw enthusiastic attendance. However, the BCCI has yet to officially announce any spectator restrictions, which could surprise fans.
Currently, tickets for the matches on January 14, 15, and 16 are not available on the official WPL ticketing site. Nevertheless, ticket sales for the Gujarat Giants vs Royal Challengers Bangalore match are anticipated to commence soon, pending a formal announcement from the BCCI regarding the final arrangements.