The countdown to the fifth edition of the Women’s Premier League has begun, with the BCCI confirming the player auction date and the schedule for WPL 2027. The five franchises will have less than a month to finalise their retention plans before heading to Kochi for the auction on October 28, as teams begin reshaping their squads for the upcoming season.The 2027 edition of the TATA Women’s Premier League will be played from January 14 to February 7, with the player retention deadline set for September 28, 2026.The BCCI formally communicated the dates to the five franchises on Wednesday before announcing them in a media release. The auction will take place at the Grand Hyatt Kochi, where teams will look to strengthen their squads ahead of the new season.
WPL 2027: Retention deadline, auction date and season schedule
The September 28 retention deadline will be the first major milestone for the franchises as they decide which players to retain and release from their existing squads. The auction will provide the five teams with an opportunity to fill gaps and build their combinations for the new season. Each franchise can have a maximum of 18 players in its squad, including up to six overseas players. The salary cap for the current cycle is Rs 15 crore.
Mumbai, Vadodara likely to host WPL 2027 matches
While the BCCI has not officially announced the venues for WPL 2027, Mumbai and Vadodara are understood to be the likely hosts as per sources of Cricbuzz. The two cities hosted the previous edition, with matches played at the Cricket Club of India (CCI) in Mumbai and Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. The final of WPL 2026 was held in Vadodara on February 5, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru emerging as champions.Varanasi has also been discussed as a potential venue, with a new stadium under construction in the city. However, hosting WPL matches there remains a remote possibility at this stage. Sources in the league have indicated that any decision on Varanasi would depend on the stadium being ready and tested through domestic matches before it could host a major tournament.
