The Women’s Premier League is heading into its fifth season, and the road to WPL 2027 begins in Kochi. The BCCI has confirmed that the WPL 2027 player auction will be held on October 28, 2026 at the Grand Hyatt Kochi, where the five franchises will fill out their squads for the new season. With the retention window closing on September 28, 63 players have been retained across the league and 27 slots — including seven overseas ones — remain up for grabs.
Quick facts: WPL 2027 auction
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Auction date | October 28, 2026 |
| Auction venue | Grand Hyatt Kochi, Kerala |
| Season dates | January 14 to February 7, 2027 |
| Retention deadline | September 28, 2026 |
| Players retained | 63 (including 23 overseas players) |
| Auction slots available | 27 (including 7 overseas slots) |
| Defending champions | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| Biggest purse | UP Warriorz (INR 3.65 crore) |
| Smallest purse | Mumbai Indians (INR 1.00 crore) |
Auction date and venue confirmed by the BCCI
The BCCI officially announced the WPL 2027 roadmap on September 16, 2026. The fifth edition of the league will be played from January 14 to February 7, 2027, and the player auction is scheduled for October 28, 2026 at the Grand Hyatt Kochi in Kerala. Franchises were given until September 28 to submit their final lists of retained and released players — exactly one month before auction day — and the results are now official.
Kochi hosting the auction continues the BCCI’s pattern of taking the WPL’s big administrative events to different corners of the country, while the season itself is expected to be played across multiple cities. Reports suggest Mumbai and Vadodara are among the front-runners to host matches, though the BCCI has not yet confirmed the tournament venues.
Who was retained and who was released
The retention deadline produced a settled picture: 63 players kept their contracts across the five franchises, including 23 overseas stars, while 26 players were released back into the auction pool. Gujarat Giants were the busiest retainers, holding on to 15 players and releasing only four, while UP Warriorz let go of nine — the most of any team — which explains their commanding purse.
A few headline moves stood out. RCB released Australians Grace Harris and Linsey Smith but kept skipper Smriti Mandhana and Ellyse Perry at the core of their squad. Mumbai Indians let go of young wicketkeeper G Kamalini — reportedly linked to a scheduling clash with the Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup — along with left-arm spinner Saika Ishaque. Gujarat Giants made the boldest call of all, releasing Danni Wyatt-Hodge, one of the form openers in world cricket, along with Titas Sadhu. UP Warriorz cut ties with Deandra Dottin, Amy Jones, Chloe Tryon, Asha Sobhana, Kiran Navgire and Shweta Sehrawat as they prepare for a major rebuild, while Delhi Capitals released Alana King, Lizelle Lee, Sneh Rana and Taniya Bhatia.
Remaining purse and slots for each team
Here’s how the five franchises stand heading into the Kochi auction:
| Team | Retained | Purse remaining | Slots to fill | Overseas slots |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UP Warriorz | 11 | INR 3.65 crore | 7 | 2 |
| Gujarat Giants | 15 | INR 1.25 crore | 3 | 1 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 13 | INR 1.15 crore | 5 | 2 |
| Delhi Capitals | 13 | INR 1.10 crore | 5 | 1 |
| Mumbai Indians | 11 | INR 1.00 crore | 7 | 1 |
UP Warriorz are clearly the team to watch on auction day. With INR 3.65 crore — more than the next two teams combined — and seven slots to fill, they can reshape their squad aggressively after finishing as the league’s weakest side last season. They have retained experienced heads in Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield, Sophie Ecclestone and Deepti Sharma, so the core is not empty; the auction is about depth around them.
At the other end, the two-time champions Mumbai Indians have the smallest purse at INR 1 crore, though they also have seven slots to fill and a glittering retained core built around Harmanpreet Kaur, Hayley Matthews, Amelia Kerr, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Shabnim Ismail. Their shopping will be about adding depth cheaply rather than splashing on stars. Gujarat Giants have the fewest slots to fill (just three) and can afford to be selective, while RCB and Delhi Capitals sit in the middle with five slots each and purses just over a crore.
What to watch for at the Kochi auction
With 27 slots and only seven overseas places available, the auction will be a careful balancing act. Teams can have a maximum squad of 18 players and no more than six overseas stars, so franchises that are already close to their overseas limit will focus mainly on domestic talent.
The released-player pool has genuine quality. Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s release is likely to trigger the fiercest bidding among Indian domestic and overseas batters, while all-rounders like Grace Harris and Deandra Dottin rarely stay unsold for long. Keep an eye on how UP Warriorz deploy their huge purse — they could set the tone for the entire day by going hard on the biggest names early. Also worth watching: whether Mumbai Indians can rebuild their Indian spin stocks after losing Saika Ishaque, and how Delhi Capitals replace the experience of Alana King and Sneh Rana.
Defending champions and the season ahead
Royal Challengers Bengaluru enter WPL 2027 as defending champions after lifting their second title in 2026, beating Delhi Capitals in the final. Smriti Mandhana’s side chased down 204 with two balls to spare in that final, and with their core intact, they will start the new season as the team to beat. The five franchises are unchanged — RCB, Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz — and the league will celebrate its fifth edition in January 2027.
Frequently asked questions
When is the WPL 2027 auction?
The WPL 2027 player auction is scheduled for October 28, 2026. It will be held at the Grand Hyatt Kochi in Kerala.
Where is the WPL 2027 auction being held?
The auction takes place at the Grand Hyatt Kochi, Kerala, as officially confirmed by the BCCI on September 16, 2026.
When does WPL 2027 start?
WPL 2027, the fifth edition of the league, will be played from January 14 to February 7, 2027. The tournament venues have not been officially announced yet.
Which team has the biggest purse for the WPL 2027 auction?
UP Warriorz have the biggest remaining purse at INR 3.65 crore, followed by Gujarat Giants (INR 1.25 crore), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (INR 1.15 crore), Delhi Capitals (INR 1.10 crore) and Mumbai Indians (INR 1.00 crore).
How many players were retained ahead of the WPL 2027 auction?
63 players were retained across the five franchises, including 23 overseas players. A total of 27 slots, including seven overseas slots, are available at the auction.
Who are the defending champions of WPL 2027?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are the defending champions, having won their second WPL title in 2026 by defeating Delhi Capitals in the final.
Conclusion
The WPL 2027 auction in Kochi on October 28 promises to be one of the most consequential in the league’s short history. With UP Warriorz armed with a record purse, Mumbai Indians forced to be clever with the smallest budget, and quality names like Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Grace Harris back in the pool, all five franchises have clear business to do. The season itself begins on January 14, 2027 — and defending champions RCB will not have it easy.
