WPL 2027 auction on October 28 in Kochi, season runs January 14 to February 7
Synopsis
The BCCI has locked in the WPL 2027 calendar: a retention deadline on September 28, a player auction at Grand Hyatt Kochi on October 28, and a season window from January 14 to February 7. Defending champions RCB head into the process as back-to-back title holders, making their retention picks the most scrutinised of the five franchises.
Key Takeaways
The WPL 2027 season will run from 14 January to 7 February 2027 , confirmed by the BCCI on 16 September 2026 .
Player retention deadline for all five franchises is 28 September 2026 .
The WPL Player Auction will be held on 28 October 2026 at the Grand Hyatt Kochi .
Royal Challengers Bengaluru enter as defending champions after winning the 2026 title against Delhi Capitals .
The five competing franchises are RCB , Delhi Capitals , Mumbai Indians , Gujarat Giants , and UP Warriorz .
Now in its fifth year, the WPL has operated since its inaugural 2023 season as a key platform for women's cricket development in India.
The fifth edition of the Women's Premier League (WPL) will run from 14 January to 7 February 2027, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officially confirming the schedule on Wednesday, 16 September 2026. The announcement sets in motion a structured timeline of squad-building events ahead of what will be the league's most mature season yet.
Key Dates and Milestones
The first critical checkpoint arrives on 28 September, when all five franchises must submit their player retention decisions. This window will determine which existing squad members each team locks in before the market opens. A month later, on 28 October, the WPL Player Auction will be held at the Grand Hyatt Kochi — giving franchises the opportunity to address gaps and finalise balanced combinations across batting, bowling, and all-round roles.
The Five Franchises and Defending Champions
The 2027 WPL will once again feature five teams: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Delhi Capitals (DC), Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Giants, and UP Warriorz. The campaign follows the 2026 edition, in which Royal Challengers Bengaluru claimed their second WPL title, defeating Delhi Capitals in the final. RCB enter the 2027 season as back-to-back champions, making their retention calls particularly closely watched.
Why the Retention Window Matters
The 28 September retention deadline is more than administrative housekeeping — it will define each franchise's strategic identity heading into Kochi. Teams that anchor around proven international names will face a different auction calculus than those banking on emerging Indian talent. Notably, the WPL has increasingly served as a proving ground for younger players seeking to break into the national setup, meaning retention choices carry development implications beyond the tournament itself.
WPL's Growth Since 2023
Now entering its fifth year, the WPL has grown steadily since its inaugural season in 2023. The BCCI has described the tournament as a cornerstone of its women's cricket development strategy, providing elite domestic competition for both established internationals and rising talent. The league's expanding footprint reflects a broader push to professionalise women's cricket in India at scale.
What Happens Next
With the schedule locked in, attention turns immediately to the 28 September retention deadline. Once franchises reveal their retained squads, focus will shift to Kochi, where the October 28 auction will shape the final rosters for all five sides ahead of the 14 January 2027 season opener.
Point of View
However, is the retention window: with RCB holding the title twice over, rivals face mounting pressure to build squads capable of breaking that dominance. The Kochi auction venue is also a subtle signal — the BCCI is visibly broadening the WPL's geographic footprint beyond its Mumbai-Delhi axis. Whether that translates into deeper audience penetration in southern markets remains the league's medium-term growth test.
NationPress
16 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When will WPL 2027 be played?
The fifth edition of the Women's Premier League will be held from 14 January to 7 February 2027. The BCCI confirmed these dates on 16 September 2026.
When and where is the WPL 2027 player auction?
The WPL 2027 Player Auction is scheduled for 28 October 2026 at the Grand Hyatt Kochi. Franchises will use the auction to fill squad gaps after the retention deadline on 28 September 2026.
Which team won WPL 2026?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the WPL 2026 title, defeating Delhi Capitals in the final. It was RCB's second WPL championship, making them the current back-to-back defending champions.
Which franchises compete in WPL 2027?
Five franchises will participate: Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Giants, and UP Warriorz — unchanged from previous seasons.
What is the player retention deadline for WPL 2027?
The player retention deadline is 28 September 2026, giving all five franchises until that date to decide which existing squad members they wish to retain before the October 28 auction.
