The Women’s Premier League (WPL) is preparing for its fifth season, and all five franchises have announced their retained and released players ahead of the WPL 2027 auction.
The retention deadline was September 28, 2026. Teams have now confirmed which players will remain part of their squads and which players will be available for the next stage of squad building.
The WPL 2027 auction is scheduled for October 28, 2026, at the Grand Hyatt Kochi. The tournament is scheduled to take place from January 14 to February 7, 2027.
Several well-known players have been retained by their franchises, while some familiar names have been released ahead of the auction. These decisions will shape how the five teams prepare for the upcoming season.
In this article, CricRay covers the WPL 2027 retained players, released players, team-wise retention lists, auction date, and important details about the new season.
WPL 2027: Key Dates and Details
Here are the important dates and details for the upcoming Women’s Premier League season.
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Tournament | Women’s Premier League 2027 |
| Edition | Fifth season |
| Retention deadline | September 28, 2026 |
| Player auction | October 28, 2026 |
| Auction venue | Grand Hyatt Kochi |
| Tournament start date | January 14, 2027 |
| Tournament final date | February 7, 2027 |
| Participating teams | Five franchises |
The retention process is complete, and the next major event is the player auction in Kochi.
What Is the WPL 2027 Retention List?
The WPL retention list shows the players each franchise has decided to keep for the upcoming season.
Before the auction, teams review their existing squads and decide which players they want to retain. Players who are released are no longer part of that franchise’s retained group and may become available for selection, subject to the auction rules.
Retention allows teams to maintain continuity while making changes to their squads. It also helps franchises identify the roles they may need to fill at the auction.
For WPL 2027, all five franchises completed their retention process by September 28, 2026. The announced lists provide the first clear picture of how the teams are preparing for the new season.
WPL 2027 Retained and Released Players: Full Team-Wise List
The Women’s Premier League features five franchises: Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, UP Warriorz and Gujarat Giants.
Below is the team-wise list of retained and released players ahead of the WPL 2027 auction.
1. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru have retained 13 players ahead of the WPL 2027 auction. The retained group includes captain Smriti Mandhana, wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh and Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry.
RCB retained players
- Smriti Mandhana
- Richa Ghosh
- Ellyse Perry
- Lauren Bell
- Pooja Vastrakar
- Arundhati Reddy
- Radha Yadav
- Nadine de Klerk
- Georgia Voll
- Shreyanka Patil
- Prema Rawat
- Prathyoosha Kumar
- Sayali Satghare
RCB released players
- Grace Harris
- Linsey Smith
- Gautami Naik
- Dayalan Hemalatha
RCB have retained a substantial part of their existing squad while releasing four players. The availability of Ellyse Perry is one of the notable features of the franchise’s retention announcement.
2. Mumbai Indians (MI)
Mumbai Indians have retained 11 players ahead of the WPL 2027 auction. Their retained group includes captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr and Hayley Matthews.
Mumbai Indians retained players
- Harmanpreet Kaur
- Amanjot Kaur
- Hayley Matthews
- Amelia Kerr
- Nat Sciver-Brunt
- Nicola Carey
- Rahila Firdous
- S. Sajana
- Sanskriti Gupta
- Shabnim Ismail
- Vaishnavi Sharma
Mumbai Indians released players
- Poonam Khemnar
- Saika Ishaque
- Triveni Vasistha
- Nalla Reddy
- Milly Illingworth
- G. Kamalini
Mumbai Indians have retained a group of experienced international players alongside Indian talent. The released list includes wicketkeeper-batter G. Kamalini and spinner Saika Ishaque.
3. Delhi Capitals (DC)
Delhi Capitals have retained 13 players for the WPL 2027 season. Captain Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Marizanne Kapp and Annabel Sutherland are among the key names in the retained group.
Delhi Capitals retained players
- Jemimah Rodrigues
- Shafali Verma
- Annabel Sutherland
- Marizanne Kapp
- N. Sree Charani
- Chinelle Henry
- Laura Wolvaardt
- Niki Prasad
- Minnu Mani
- Nandni Sharma
- Deeya Yadav
- Lucy Hamilton
- Mamatha Madiwala
Delhi Capitals released players
- Alana King
- Sneh Rana
- Lizelle Lee
- Taniya Bhatia
- Pragati Singh
- Eddla Srujana
Delhi Capitals have retained a mix of Indian and overseas players while releasing six players. Their retained group includes options across batting, bowling and all-rounder roles.
4. UP Warriorz (UPW)
UP Warriorz have retained 11 players ahead of the WPL 2027 auction. The group includes captain Meg Lanning, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone and Phoebe Litchfield.
UP Warriorz retained players
- Deepti Sharma
- Shikha Pandey
- Meg Lanning
- Phoebe Litchfield
- Sophie Ecclestone
- Harleen Deol
- Kranti Gaud
- Pratika Rawal
- Shipra Giri
- Simran Shaikh
- Tara Norris
UP Warriorz released players
- Kiran Navgire
- Chloe Tryon
- Deandra Dottin
- Asha Sobhana
- Amy Jones
- Shweta Sehrawat
UP Warriorz have retained an experienced core while releasing six players. The franchise will have the opportunity to add players to its squad at the October auction.
5. Gujarat Giants (GG)
Gujarat Giants have retained 15 players ahead of the WPL 2027 auction, the largest retained group among the five franchises. Captain Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney and Sophie Devine are among the players retained.
Gujarat Giants retained players
- Ashleigh Gardner
- Beth Mooney
- Sophie Devine
- Georgia Wareham
- Bharti Fulmali
- Kashvee Gautam
- Renuka Singh
- Kim Garth
- Yastika Bhatia
- Anushka Sharma
- Tanuja Kanwer
- Rajeshwari Gayakwad
- Kanika Ahuja
- Happy Kumari
- Jintimani Kalita
Gujarat Giants released players
- Danni Wyatt-Hodge
- Aayushi Soni
- Titas Sadhu
- Shivani Singh
Gujarat Giants have retained most of their existing squad and released four players. With 15 players retained, the franchise has fewer open squad places than teams that retained smaller groups.
WPL 2027 Auction: Date, Venue and What to Expect
The WPL 2027 player auction will take place on October 28, 2026, at the Grand Hyatt Kochi. It will be the next major stage of squad building after the retention deadline.
During the auction, franchises will have the opportunity to add players to their squads and address areas where they need additional options.
Teams will consider several factors when preparing for the auction:
- The number of players already retained.
- The roles they need to strengthen.
- The remaining squad positions.
- The players available in the auction pool.
- Their available budget under the applicable auction rules.
The auction will help franchises complete their squads ahead of the new season. The final player pool and confirmed auction results should be followed through official announcements.
WPL 2027 Squad Rules and Salary Cap
Squad size and salary limits are important factors in how franchises prepare for an auction.
The reported framework for the upcoming season includes a maximum squad size of 18 players per team, a limit of six overseas players in a squad, and a reported salary cap of ₹15 crore per franchise.
These limits affect how teams approach the auction, but a team’s remaining budget depends on the official salary figures of its retained players and the applicable rules.
For that reason, the remaining purse for each franchise should be confirmed through official auction information rather than estimated from the number of players retained or released.
What Do the WPL 2027 Retention Decisions Tell Us?
The retention lists show that each franchise has taken a different approach to squad building.
| Team | Retained players | Released players |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 13 | 4 |
| Mumbai Indians | 11 | 6 |
| Delhi Capitals | 13 | 6 |
| UP Warriorz | 11 | 6 |
| Gujarat Giants | 15 | 4 |
These figures show how many players each franchise has retained and released. They do not, by themselves, indicate which team will perform better in the upcoming season.
The auction will give the franchises an opportunity to fill their remaining squad positions and make further changes before the tournament begins.
When Will WPL 2027 Start?
The fifth edition of the Women’s Premier League is scheduled to begin on January 14, 2027, and conclude on February 7, 2027.
The tournament will feature the five existing franchises, with teams preparing for the new season through the retention process and October auction.
Fans can expect further announcements about the match schedule, venues and other tournament details as the season approaches.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the WPL 2027 retention deadline?
The retention deadline was September 28, 2026. All five franchises have announced their retained and released players.
2. When is the WPL 2027 auction?
The WPL 2027 player auction is scheduled for October 28, 2026.
3. Where will the WPL 2027 auction take place?
The auction will be held at the Grand Hyatt Kochi.
4. When will WPL 2027 begin?
The tournament is scheduled to begin on January 14, 2027, and conclude on February 7, 2027.
5. How many teams will participate in WPL 2027?
Five franchises will participate: Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, UP Warriorz and Gujarat Giants.
6. Which team retained the most players for WPL 2027?
Gujarat Giants retained 15 players, the highest number among the five franchises.
7. Which major players were released ahead of the WPL 2027 auction?
Some notable released players include Grace Harris from RCB, G. Kamalini from Mumbai Indians, Alana King from Delhi Capitals and Danni Wyatt-Hodge from Gujarat Giants.
8. Is the WPL 2027 auction a mega auction?
The official announcement confirms a player auction on October 28, 2026. It does not explicitly describe the event as a mega auction.
Conclusion
The WPL 2027 retention process is complete, with all five franchises announcing their retained and released players ahead of the October auction.
Gujarat Giants have retained 15 players, while Mumbai Indians and UP Warriorz have retained 11 each. Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals have retained 13 players apiece.
The next major event is the WPL 2027 player auction on October 28 in Kochi. The fifth season is scheduled to run from January 14 to February 7, 2027.
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