The opening match of MI vs RCB WPL 2026 threw up a major talking point at the toss, with Mumbai Indians captain Harmanpreet Kaur confirming that Hayley Matthews is not part of the playing XI.
So, why is Hayley Matthews not playing in the MI vs RCB WPL 2026 opener? The answer is straightforward: Matthews is unwell and has been ruled out of the match, as confirmed by Harmanpreet Kaur during the toss.
Mumbai Indians were forced into a late change ahead of the season opener. Meanwhile, also check why Georgia Voll is not playing tonight for RCB.
Why Is Hayley Matthews Not Playing in MI vs RCB WPL 2026?
Speaking after the toss, Harmanpreet Kaur said Matthews was unwell and unavailable for selection, adding that the rest of the squad looked in good touch and well prepared.
This means Mumbai Indians begin their WPL 2026 title defence without one of their most influential players, a key part of both their batting and bowling plans over the last three seasons.
For clarity, this is not an injury picked up during the game and not a rest decision. Matthews was simply unavailable on match day.
MI vs RCB Playing XI for WPL 2026 Match 1
Below are the playing XIs of both sides:
Mumbai Indians Playing XI
- Nat Sciver-Brunt
- G Kamalini (wk)
- Amelia Kerr
- Harmanpreet Kaur (c)
- Amanjot Kaur
- Nicola Carey
- Poonam Khemnar
- Shabnim Ismail
- Sanskriti Gupta
- Sajeevan Sajana
- Saika Ishaque
RCB Playing XI
- Smriti Mandhana (c)
- Grace Harris
- Dayalan Hemalatha
- Richa Ghosh (wk)
- Radha Yadav
- Nadine de Klerk
- Arundhati Reddy
- Shreyanka Patil
- Prema Rawat
- Linsey Smith
- Lauren Bell
How Hayley Matthews’ Absence Affects Mumbai Indians
Matthews’ absence significantly alters Mumbai Indians’ balance in MI vs RCB WPL 2026 as Mumbai Indians are over dependent on their overseas trio.
She usually provides:
- Powerplay aggression at the top
- 3–4 overs of high-impact spin
- A left-handed option that disrupts match-ups
Without her, MI are forced to reshuffle their batting order and rely even more heavily on Nat Sciver-Brunt and Amelia Kerr for all-round impact, something we’ve already highlighted as a structural risk in their squad build. Nicola Carey’s inclusion strengthens seam-bowling depth, but there is no real like-for-like replacement for Matthews’ dual role.
