BCCI reveals WPL 2027 dates: Tournament to start on January 14 with auction in October
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially released the key dates for the upcoming fifth edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL). According to a media advisory issued from Mumbai, the WPL 2027 season is scheduled to run from January 14 to February 7, 2027.
As the premier T20 league for women's cricket, the WPL continues to serve as a massive platform for the sport's global expansion. The tournament brings together top-tier international stars and provides a high-stakes stage for emerging talent to showcase their skills.
Key deadlines for player retention and auctions
Before the matches begin, the franchises must first finalize their core rosters. The first major milestone for the 2027 season will be the player retention deadline, which is set for September 28, 2026.
During this period, the five participating franchises will have the chance to retain players from their current squads. This allows teams to begin building their strategic combinations well in advance of the new season.
Following the retention phase, the league will move into its next stage of squad construction. The WPL Player Auction is scheduled to take place on October 28, 2026, at the Grand Hyatt Kochi. At this event, all five franchises will compete to strengthen and complete their rosters for the upcoming edition.
Looking back at the recent WPL seasons
To provide context for the upcoming season, the media advisory noted the timeline of the previous tournament. The 2026 WPL edition was played between January 9 and February 5.
That season kicked off with a match between the Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. RCB eventually emerged as the champions of the 2026 edition.
With that victory, RCB became only the second team to win the competition twice. Their championship history includes a win in 2024 and the more recent 2026 title. They follow the Mumbai Indians, who secured the inaugural 2023 edition and the 2025 title.