All five Women’s Premier League (WPL) franchises confirmed their retained player lists for the 2027 season on Monday, setting the stage for the league’s fifth edition, which will run from January 14 to February 7, 2027. The announcements, made ahead of the player auction scheduled for October 28 at the Grand Hyatt in Kochi, revealed a total of 63 retained players and highlighted two high‑profile releases: Australian power‑hitter Grace Harris from Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and young wicket‑keeper‑batter G Kamalini from Mumbai Indians.
Retention patterns across the five franchises
The five teams adopted differing strategies as they prepared for the first auction following the 2026 mega‑auction. Gujarat Giants opted for maximum continuity, retaining 15 players – the highest number among the franchises – while Mumbai Indians and UP Warriorz each kept 11, leaving the most room for new signings. RCB and Delhi Capitals each retained 13 players, and Gujarat’s limited turnover means the team will enter the auction with only three slots to fill.
In total, the retentions create 27 potential squad places across the league, assuming each franchise expands to the permitted maximum of 18 players. Mumbai Indians and UP Warriorz have the greatest flexibility, each with seven open spots; RCB and Delhi Capitals have five each; Gujarat Giants can add three more players before the season begins.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s core stays intact, but Grace Harris departs
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru retained 13 players, preserving the nucleus that delivered the title last season. Captain Smriti Mandhana remains at the helm, flanked by a mix of international stars and Indian talent: Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil, Georgia Voll, Nadine de Klerk, Lauren Bell, Radha Yadav, Prema Rawat, Arundhati Reddy, Pooja Vastrakar, K Prathyoosha and Sayali Satghare.
Ellyse Perry, who missed the 2026 campaign for personal reasons, has confirmed her availability for 2027, giving RCB additional flexibility in overseas player allocation. The franchise’s overseas contingent now consists of Perry, Voll, Bell and de Klerk, all of whom are part of the retained group.
The most notable departure from RCB’s roster is Australian all‑rounder Grace Harris. Alongside Harris, England spinner Linsey Smith and Indian duo Dayalam Hemlatha and Gautami Naik were also released. Head coach Malolan Rangarajan explained that Perry’s return opened up space to restructure the squad, allowing the team to retain a balanced mix of experience and emerging talent while freeing up overseas slots for the upcoming auction.
Mumbai Indians trim squad, release G Kamalini
Two‑time champions Mumbai Indians retained 11 players, keeping the bulk of their international core intact. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur leads a group that includes Nat Sciver‑Brunt, Hayley Matthews, Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Nicola Carey, Shabnim Ismail, S Sajana, Sanskriti Gupta, Rahila Firdous and Vaishnai Sharma.
The franchise’s decision to release G Kamalini has attracted particular attention because she was among the five players Mumbai retained ahead of the 2026 mega‑auction. Kamalini’s exit, along with the releases of Saika Ishaque, Poonam Khemnar, Triveni Vasistha, Nalla Reddy and Milly Illingworth, creates ample room for the team to add depth at the October auction. Notably, Vaishnavi, who joined the squad as an injury replacement during the previous season, has now secured a retained spot for 2027.
Delhi Capitals hold fast to their heavyweight core
Delhi Capitals also retained 13 players, preserving the backbone of a side that reached the WPL final last season. Captain Jemimah Rodrigues leads a lineup featuring Shefali Verma, Marizanne Kapp, Annabel Sutherland, Laura Wolvaardt, Chenille Henry, Niki Prasad, Minnu Mani, Nandini Sharma, N Sree Charani, Deeya Yadav, Mamatha Madiwala and Lucy Hamilton.
The Capitals released six players: Lizelle Lee, Sneh Rana, Alana King, Taniyaa Bhatia, Pragati Singh and Eddla Srujana. Head coach Jonathan Betty stated that the franchise’s primary aim entering the auction is to enhance an already solid starting XI rather than embark on a wholesale rebuild.
UP Warriorz reshuffle supporting cast
UP Warriorz retained 11 players, including captain Meg Lanning, all‑rounder Deepti Sharma, England’s Sophie Ecclestone, Australian prodigy Phoebe Litchfield, and Indian bowlers Shikha Pandey, Harleen Deol, Kranti Gaud, Pratika Rawal, Shipra Giri, Simran Shaikh and Tara Norris.
The team released six players: Shweta Sherawat, Kiran Navgire, Asha Sobhana, Deandra Dottin, Chole Tryon and Amy Jones. Sherawat’s departure is notable because she was UP Warriorz’s only retention before the 2026 mega‑auction, while the exits of Dottin, Tryon and Jones free up experienced overseas slots for the upcoming auction.
Gujarat Giants prioritize stability
Gujarat Giants pursued the most conservative approach, retaining 15 players – the largest contingent among the five clubs. The retained overseas core includes captain Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine, Georgia Wareham and Kim Garth. Indian retainments feature Renuka Singh, Yastika Bhatia, Bharti Fulmali, Kashvee Gautam, Kanika Ahuja, Tanuja Kanwar, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Anushka Sharma, Happy Kumari and Jintimani Kalita.
Only four players were released: Danny Wyatt‑Hodge, Titas Sadhu, Aayushi Soni and Shivani Singh. The minimal turnover leaves Gujarat with the smallest rebuilding task, allowing the franchise to focus the auction on filling specific gaps rather than overhauling the squad.
Collectively, the retention decisions underscore a mix of continuity and strategic pruning as teams position themselves for the October 28 auction. While Gujarat Giants and Delhi Capitals appear intent on fine‑tuning an already strong core, RCB and Mumbai Indians have opted for more pronounced changes, releasing marquee players to free up overseas slots and create flexibility. The upcoming auction in Kochi will determine how each franchise balances the desire for stability with the need to address identified weaknesses, shaping the competitive landscape for the 2027 WPL season.
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