The first major reshuffle ahead of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2027 has taken shape, with all five franchises opting largely to preserve their established cores while releasing a handful of high-profile names ahead of next month’s auction.
The retention window officially closed on September 28, with 63 players, including 23 overseas cricketers, retained across the five teams. A further 27 slots, including seven overseas slots, remain to be filled at the auction in Kochi on October 28. The fifth edition of the WPL is scheduled to be played from January 14 to February 7, 2027, giving the franchises a little over three months to complete their squads and prepare for another season of the league. The auction will take place at the Grand Hyatt in Kochi.
RCB retained the champions’ core, but Grace Harris was released. Reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru have chosen continuity after a title-winning 2026 campaign. Captain Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Ellyse Perry, Georgia Voll, Lauren Bell, Nadine de Klerk, Shreyanka Patil, Pooja Vastrakar and Radha Yadav are among the 13 players retained. However, RCB’s decision to release Australian all-rounder Grace Harris is one of the more notable moves of the retention window.
Harris scored 237 runs in WPL 2026, including two half-centuries, but has now entered the auction pool alongside Linsey Smith, Dayalan Hemalatha and Gautami Naik. The decision comes after RCB’s second WPL title in 2026. They defeated Delhi Capitals by six wickets in the final after chasing down 204, the highest successful chase in a WPL final. Mandhana’s 87 off 41 balls and Georgia Voll’s 79 off 54 powered the champions home.
Delhi maintained their core despite another final defeat. Delhi Capitals have retained 13 players, including Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Laura Wolvaardt, Annabel Sutherland and Marizanne Kapp. Delhi’s retention strategy is particularly notable given their consistency in the competition. They reached a fourth consecutive WPL final in 2026, only to lose to RCB. The franchise has therefore opted to preserve the core that has repeatedly taken it deep into the tournament. However, Sneh Rana, Lizelle Lee, Alana King and Taniyaa Bhatia are among those released, leaving Delhi with five auction slots and ₹1.10 crore available.
Gujarat retained the most players. Gujarat Giants have retained 15 players, the largest number among the five franchises. Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner, Sophie Devine and Georgia Wareham headline a group that also includes Renuka Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Kashvee Gautam and Yastika Bhatia. The major surprise is the release of England’s Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who now becomes one of the notable overseas names available at the auction. Gujarat have three slots to fill and ₹1.25 crore remaining in their purse.
Mumbai and UP leave room for the auction. Mumbai Indians have retained 11 players, with captain Harmanpreet Kaur continuing to lead a core that includes Natalie Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Matthews, Amelia Kerr and Shabnim Ismail. The two-time champions have released six players, including G Kamalini and Saika Ishaque, and have seven slots available at the auction.
UP Warriorz have also retained 11 players. Deepti Sharma, Meg Lanning, Sophie Ecclestone, Phoebe Litchfield and Pratika Rawal form the backbone of their squad, while Asha Sobhana, Deandra Dottin, Kiran Navgire and Amy Jones are among those released. UPW enters the auction with the largest purse, ₹3.65 crore, and seven available slots, including two overseas positions.
Continuity first, auction strategy next. The WPL 2027 retention window has delivered a clear message: the five franchises are not looking for wholesale changes. They are looking to fine-tune. The numbers underline that approach. A combined ₹66.85 crore has already been spent on the retained 63 players, leaving ₹8.15 crore across the five teams for the auction. That makes the October 28 auction less about rebuilding and more about identifying the missing pieces.
For RCB, the challenge will be strengthening a championship-winning squad without disturbing its successful balance. Delhi will look to address the final hurdle that has kept them from a maiden title. Gujarat have retained the deepest group, while Mumbai and UP have created more space to reshape their squads. The biggest intrigue, however, could come from the released overseas stars. Grace Harris, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Linsey Smith and Deandra Dottin will all bring proven international experience into the auction pool.
With the WPL continuing to expand its global profile, the October 28 auction could therefore prove less about changing the identity of the five teams and more about determining which small additions can make the difference when the title race begins on January 14.
