Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2027 player auction will take place on October 28 in Kochi, with five franchises looking to fill 27 vacant squad positions. A single signing can change a team’s balance, especially when budgets are tight and the most sought-after players are competing for limited places.

Some teams have more room to make several additions, while others must prioritise specific gaps and make every bid count. The choices made in Kochi will shape the squads heading into a season where the margin between a settled combination and a title-winning one could come down to a few crucial selections.

WPL 2027 Auction Date and Time

The auction is scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, 2026, and will start at 5:30 pm IST. It is a mini-auction, following the major squad reshuffle conducted before the 2026 season. The fifth edition of the league is scheduled to run from January 14 to February 7, 2027. The full match schedule and tournament venues have not yet been announced.

Where Will the WPL 2027 Auction Take Place?

The auction will be held at the Grand Hyatt Kochi in Kerala. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the venue along with the auction date in September. All five franchises will take part in bidding to strengthen their squads before the new season.

WPL 2027 Auction Live Streaming in India

The auction is scheduled to stream live on the JioHotstar app and website in India from 5:30 pm IST. Viewers can check the platform before the event for access and any subscription requirements.

Where to Watch WPL 2027 Auction Live Telecast

Television coverage is expected on the Star Sports Network. The auction gives fans a chance to follow the franchises’ decisions as they compete for the remaining players.

WPL 2027 Auction Rules and Regulations

The 2027 event is a mini-auction, so teams will retain their existing core squads and bid for players to fill vacancies. Each franchise has an overall salary purse of Rs 15 crore, including money committed to retained players. The amount available for bidding is therefore different for every team.

A squad can contain up to 18 players, with a maximum of six overseas players. A team can field up to four overseas players in its playing XI, with an additional overseas player permitted if that player is from an Associate nation. The auction pool includes capped and uncapped cricketers from India and overseas.

The auction list includes 22 capped Indian players and 97 uncapped Indians, alongside 14 capped overseas players and 13 uncapped overseas players. Six overseas entrants represent Associate nations. These numbers mean the auction is not limited to established international names: franchises can also target uncapped Indian talent to add depth and competition within their squads.

WPL 2027 Auction Purse: Team-Wise Budget

UP Warriorz have the largest reported remaining purse at Rs 3.75 crore and eight available slots. Gujarat Giants have Rs 1.25 crore for three slots, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru have Rs 1.15 crore for five. Delhi Capitals have Rs 1.10 crore and five slots. Mumbai Indians have Rs 90 lakh and six slots, with no overseas slot available. Across the five teams, 27 positions remain to be filled, including seven overseas places.

WPL 2027 Auction: Retained and Released Players

The five franchises retained 63 players, including 23 overseas cricketers, ahead of the auction. Royal Challengers Bengaluru have held on to Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh and Ellyse Perry, while Mumbai Indians retained captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Amelia Kerr.

Delhi Capitals retained Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma and Marizanne Kapp. Gujarat Giants kept Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner and Sophie Devine, while UP Warriorz retained Deepti Sharma, Meg Lanning and Sophie Ecclestone.

Several familiar names have entered the auction pool after being released. These include RCB’s Grace Harris, UP Warriorz’s Kiran Navgire and Chloe Tryon, Delhi Capitals’ Lizelle Lee and Alana King, and Gujarat Giants’ Danni Wyatt-Hodge.

WPL 2027 Auction: Key Players to Watch

England batter Sophia Dunkley and Australia all-rounder Sophie Molineux have registered at the highest base price of Rs 50 lakh. Indian players G Kamalini and Kiran Navgire, along with Australia’s Heather Graham and Jess Jonassen, have set base prices of Rs 40 lakh. Another 30 players are in the Rs 30 lakh bracket.

With 146 players competing for 27 openings, teams will need to balance immediate needs with budget limits. UP Warriorz have the most room to bid, while Mumbai Indians must work within the smallest remaining purse and have no overseas vacancy. The auction will determine the final additions before the WPL 2027 season begins in January. This is the final squad-building stage before the upcoming season.