ESPNcricinfo has learned that the police have informed BCCI that they will not be able to provide adequate security for the cricket around election time, and so the matches between Delhi Capitals and UP Warriorz on January 14, and Mumbai Indians and UP Warriorz on January 15 will be played without spectators at the DY Patil Stadium.
“Spectators will be permitted entry into the stadium from January 16, 2026 onwards, and all subsequent matches will be played with crowds in attendance,” the WPL said in a statement.
The WPL schedule was released on November 29 last year while the date of the election was made public on December 15. It is understood that the WPL committee was updated soon after the election date was decided. The opening game on Friday had a near full house, while the weekend’s double-headers also attracted sizeable crowds.
After the double-header on January 17 at the DY Patil Stadium – MI vs UPW and DC vs RCB – the league moves to Vadodara for the remainder of the season.
