The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially scheduled the 2027 edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) to take place from January 14 to February 7, 2027. Ahead of the tournament, the player auction is set for October 28, 2026, at the Grand Hyatt in Kochi.
Franchises must finalize their squad foundations before the auction. The BCCI Media Advisory stated: “The first milestone ahead of the new season will be the Player Retention deadline on 28 September 2026. The five franchises will have the opportunity to retain players from their existing squads as they begin putting their combinations in place for the new season.”
For the 2027 season, teams will operate under a salary cap of ₹15 crore. The auction in Kochi will serve as the final phase of squad assembly. “The next phase of squad building will take place at the TATA WPL Player Auction on 28 October 2026. The auction will be held at the Grand Hyatt Kochi, where the five franchises will look to complete and strengthen their squads for the upcoming edition,” the advisory added.
Analysis of the current cricket calendar suggests the January-February window is designed to ensure the WPL concludes before the inaugural ICC Women’s Champions Trophy. That tournament is scheduled to be held in India from February 14 to 28, 2027.
Regarding venues, Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium is the primary shortlisted location. However, the BCCI is considering expanding the tournament’s footprint. Varanasi and Vadodara’s Kotambi Stadium are candidates for the second host city slot. The new international stadium in Varanasi is currently approximately 92% complete and will undergo a BCCI inspection to determine its readiness to host matches by January 2027.
The upcoming retention deadline on September 28 will confirm which players from Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Delhi Capitals, UP Warriorz, and Gujarat Giants will enter the auction pool in Kochi.
