The road to the Women's Premier League 2027 has officially begun with the announcement of the player retention and release lists by all five franchises. As the cricket world looks forward to the next season, which is scheduled to be played between January and February 2027, the teams have completed their initial squad restructuring. This announcement comes exactly one month before the highly anticipated auction, which is set to take place at the end of October. The franchises had a deadline of September 28 to submit their final lists to the BCCI, and the results have brought several surprises to the forefront of the cricketing community.
Major Shocks in Retention Lists
The biggest talking point of the retention window is the decision made by the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bangalore. In a move that has left many experts and fans surprised, RCB has decided to release the explosive Australian batter Grace Harris. Known for her power-hitting and ability to change the course of a game single-handedly, Harris was considered a core part of the setup. However, the management has opted for a different direction for the 2027 season. Similarly, Mumbai Indians have made a bold call by releasing the young Indian star G Kamalini. Delhi Capitals have also moved on from the experienced spinner Sneh Rana, indicating a shift in strategy across the league.
Delhi Capitals: Squad Update
Delhi Capitals have retained a strong core of 13 players while letting go of 6 individuals. They currently have 5 slots remaining in their squad, including 1 slot for an overseas player. The team has shown faith in their established stars like Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues.
- Released Players: Alana King, Lizelle Lee, Sneh Rana, Taniya Bhatia, Pragati Singh, Edla Srijana
- Retained Players: Annabel Sutherland, Shinkai Henry, Laura Wolvaardt, Lucy Hamilton, Marizanne Kapp, Diya Yadav, Jemimah Rodrigues, Mamatha Madiwala, Minnu Mani, N Sri Charani, Nandini Sharma, Nikki Prasad, Shafali Verma
Gujarat Giants: Squad Update
Gujarat Giants have retained a large portion of their squad, keeping 15 players. They've only 3 slots left to fill in the upcoming auction, with 1 of those being an overseas slot. The team continues to rely on the experience of Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney.
- Released Players: Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, Ayushi Soni, Titas Sadhu, Shivani Singh
- Retained Players: Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Georgia Wareham, Kim Garth, Sophie Devine, Anushka Sharma, Bharti Fulmali, Happy Kumari, Jintimani Kalita, Kanika Ahuja, Kashvee Gautam, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh, Tanuja Kanwer, Yastika Bhatia
Mumbai Indians: Squad Update
Mumbai Indians have retained 11 players and released 6. They enter the auction with 7 open slots, including 1 for an overseas player. The franchise has kept its core leadership and key all-rounders intact for the 2027 campaign.
- Released Players: Milly Illingworth, G Kamalini, Kanthi Reddy, Poonam Khemnar, Saika Ishaque, Triveni Vashisht
- Retained Players: Amelia Kerr, Hayley Matthews, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Nicola Carey, Amanjot Kaur, Harmanpreet Kaur, Rahila Firdous, S Sajana, Sanskruti Gupta, Shabnim Ismail, Vaishnavi Sharma
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Squad Update
The defending champions have retained 13 players and released 4. With 5 slots remaining, including 2 for overseas players, RCB will be looking to find a suitable replacement for Grace Harris in the auction. Smriti Mandhana and Ellyse Perry remain the pillars of the team.
- Released Players: Grace Harris, Linsey Smith, D Hemalatha, Gautami Naik
- Retained Players: Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry, Georgia Wall, Lauren Bell, Nadine de Klerk, Arundhati Reddy, Pooja Vastrakar, Prathyusha Kumar, Prema Rawat, Radha Yadav, Richa Ghosh, Sayali Satghare, Shreyanka Patil
UP Warriorz: Squad Update
UP Warriorz have undergone the most significant overhaul, releasing 9 players. They've 11 slots to fill in the auction, including 2 overseas positions. This suggests a major rebuilding phase for the team under the leadership of Meg Lanning.
- Released Players: Amy Jones, Charlie Knott, Chloe Tryon, Deandra Dottin, Asha Sobhana, G Trisha, Kiran Navgire, Shweta Sehrawat, Suman Meena
- Retained Players: Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield, Sophie Ecclestone, Tara Norris, Deepti Sharma, Harleen Deol, Kranti Gaur, Pratika Rawal, Shikha Pandey, Shipra Giri, Simran Shaikh
The upcoming auction on October 28 will be crucial for all teams as they look to fill these vacant slots and build a balanced squad for the WPL 2027 season. With several high-profile players now back in the auction pool, the competition for talent is expected to be intense.