The Women's Premier League (WPL) 2027 auction will see five franchises compete to fill 27 vacant squad positions ahead of the new season. UP Warriorz have the largest remaining purse at Rs 3.75 crore, while Gujarat Giants have the fewest vacancies, with three slots to fill.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have Rs 1.15 crore left to fill five positions, while Mumbai Indians have Rs 90 lakh for six vacancies and no overseas slots available.

The auction will take place in Kochi on October 28, with 146 players shortlisted for the 27 available positions, including seven overseas slots. With most of their squads already retained, the franchises will look to address specific gaps while staying within their remaining budgets.

The next WPL season is scheduled to run from January 14 to February 7, 2027.

WPL 2027 auction: Team-wise purse, slots and shopping list

1. UP Warriorz: The biggest purse and the most vacancies

Purse remaining: Rs 3.75 crore

Slots available: 8, including 3 overseas

UP Warriorz enter the auction with the largest remaining purse and eight vacancies. Their retained squad includes Deepti Sharma, Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield, Sophie Ecclestone, Harleen Deol and Pratika Rawal.

The franchise released Kiran Navgire, Chloe Tryon, Amy Jones, Deandra Dottin, Asha Sobhana and Shweta Sehrawat. With several players no longer in the squad, UP Warriorz could look to strengthen their batting and all-round options while adding depth to their bowling.

Three overseas slots give the franchise room to consider international players who can contribute in more than one department. Its larger purse also provides flexibility to spread spending across the eight vacancies.

2. Gujarat Giants: Three vacancies, limited scope for changes

Purse remaining: Rs 1.25 crore

Slots available: 3, including 1 overseas

Gujarat Giants have the fewest vacancies among the five franchises. Their retained squad includes Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner, Sophie Devine, Georgia Wareham, Kim Garth and Yastika Bhatia, giving them established options across batting, spin and all-round roles.

The franchise released Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Aayushi Soni, Titas Sadhu and Shivani Singh. With only three places to fill, Gujarat could focus on specific gaps rather than make extensive changes to the squad.

Its one overseas vacancy gives the team an opportunity to consider an international signing, depending on the available players and bidding prices. The remaining positions could be used to add depth to the Indian contingent.

3. Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Can the champions strengthen their depth?

Purse remaining: Rs 1.15 crore

Slots available: 5, including 2 overseas

RCB enter the auction as defending champions, with Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Ellyse Perry, Georgia Voll, Nadine de Klerk and Lauren Bell among their retained players. The franchise has retained 13 players, including four overseas cricketers.

RCB released Grace Harris, Linsey Smith, Gautami Naik and Dayalan Hemalatha. Harris scored 237 runs in the 2026 season, including two half-centuries, making another power-hitting option worth considering. The departure of Smith also leaves room to assess additional spin-bowling cover.

With two overseas slots available, RCB could consider an international all-rounder or specialist bowler. However, five vacancies and a purse of Rs 1.15 crore mean the team will also need to preserve funds for Indian players who can provide squad depth.

4. Delhi Capitals: Wicketkeeping and bowling cover to consider

Purse remaining: Rs 1.10 crore

Slots available: 5, including 1 overseas

Delhi Capitals have retained Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Laura Wolvaardt, Annabel Sutherland and Marizanne Kapp, among others.

The franchise released wicketkeeper-batters Lizelle Lee and Taniyaa Bhatia, along with leg-spinner Alana King and all-rounder Sneh Rana. These departures provide a basis for assessing the team's requirements at the auction.

Wicketkeeping cover is one area Delhi could examine after releasing Lee and Bhatia. The franchise may also look for another spin option and additional bowling depth to provide alternatives during the tournament.

Delhi have one overseas slot available. The team could consider whether an overseas signing would offer greater value in batting, wicketkeeping or bowling, while using its other positions to strengthen the Indian contingent.

5. Mumbai Indians: Six slots, Rs 90 lakh and no overseas vacancy

Purse remaining: Rs 90 lakh

Slots available: 6, all Indian

Mumbai Indians face a different challenge. They have six vacancies but the smallest remaining purse, with no overseas slots available.

Their retained squad includes Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr, Hayley Matthews, Nicola Carey and Shabnim Ismail, alongside Indian players such as Amanjot Kaur, Sajeevan Sajana, Sanskriti Gupta and Vaishnavi Sharma.

The franchise released G. Kamalini, Saika Ishaque, Milly Illingworth, Nalla Reddy, Poonam Khemnar and Triveni Vasistha. The departures leave room to assess Indian wicketkeeping cover, spin options and additional batting depth.

With Rs 90 lakh available for six positions, Mumbai will need to manage their spending carefully. The lack of overseas slots also means the franchise cannot add another international player at the auction under its current allocation.

WPL 2027 auction: Which team has the most flexibility?

UP Warriorz have the greatest financial flexibility, with Rs 3.75 crore and eight slots to fill. Their three overseas vacancies give them scope to consider international players while addressing several positions.

Gujarat Giants have the smallest recruitment task, with only three vacancies. RCB and Delhi Capitals have five positions each to fill and will need to prioritise their additions within budgets of Rs 1.15 crore and Rs 1.10 crore, respectively.

Mumbai Indians face the tightest constraints, with six vacancies, Rs 90 lakh and no overseas slots available. Their auction strategy could centre on finding Indian players who can provide specialist skills and cover for the retained squad without stretching the budget.