Kochi to host WPL 2027 auction: BCCI announces dates for Season 5 and retention deadline

New Delhi: The fifth edition of the Women's Premier League (WPL) will take place from 14 January to 7 February 2027, with the player auction scheduled for 28 October this year in Kochi, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Wednesday.

The governing body did not immediately reveal the host venues for the upcoming tournament.

"As the biggest T20 league in women's cricket, the TATA WPL has established itself as a significant platform for the growth of the sport, bringing together leading players from India and around the world while creating opportunities for emerging talent to perform at the highest level," the BCCI said in an official statement.

Franchises have been given a deadline of 28 September to finalise their player retentions.

"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," the statement added.

In the 2026 edition, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, captained by Smriti Mandhana, captured their second WPL crown during a tournament hosted across Navi Mumbai and Baroda.

Since the league's inception in 2023, both Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have secured two titles apiece.

PTI