The WPL 2027 retention list is finally out, and there are plenty of talking points ahead of the upcoming Women’s Premier League auction. All five franchises have confirmed the players they want to keep for the fifth edition of the tournament, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz all making their decisions.
One of the biggest talking points is Ellyse Perry staying with RCB. There had been plenty of speculation around the Australian all-rounder’s future, but RCB have retained her alongside captain Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh and several other key players.
The WPL 2027 season is scheduled to take place from January 14 to February 7, 2027, while the player auction will be held in Kochi on October 28, 2026. A total of 63 players, including 23 overseas players, have been retained by the five franchises, leaving 27 slots to be filled at the auction.
WPL 2027 retained players: full team-wise list
Delhi Capitals retained players
Delhi Capitals have kept a strong core for the new season. Their retained group includes several experienced international players as well as young Indian talent.
Retained players: Annabel Sutherland, Chinelle Henry, Deeya Yadav, Jemimah Rodrigues, Laura Wolvaardt, Lucy Hamilton, Mamatha Madiwala, Marizanne Kapp, Minnu Mani, Nandni Sharma, Niki Prasad, Shafali Verma and Sree Charani.
Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma remain among the biggest Indian names in the squad, while Laura Wolvaardt, Marizanne Kapp and Annabel Sutherland give Delhi plenty of international experience.
Delhi have retained 13 players, meaning they have five slots available at the auction.
Gujarat Giants retained players
Gujarat Giants have retained the biggest group of players among the five franchises, keeping 15 members of their squad.
Retained players: Anushka Sharma, Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Bharti Fulmali, Georgia Wareham, Happy Kumari, Jintimani Kalita, Kanika Ahuja, Kashvee Gautam, Kim Garth, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh, Sophie Devine, Tanuja Kanwer and Yastika Bhatia.
The Giants have retained several experienced overseas stars, including Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Georgia Wareham, Kim Garth and Sophie Devine. Their Indian group also features Renuka Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Kashvee Gautam and Yastika Bhatia.
With 15 players already retained, Gujarat Giants have only three slots remaining for the auction.
Mumbai Indians retained players
Mumbai Indians have opted to retain 11 players, keeping the core of their team together for another WPL campaign.
Retained players: Harmanpreet Kaur, Amanjot Kaur, Amelia Kerr, Hayley Matthews, Natalie Sciver-Brunt, Nicola Carey, Rahila Firdous, S Sajana, Sanskriti Gupta, Shabnim Ismail and Vaishnavi Sharma.
The retained group includes some of the biggest names in women’s T20 cricket. Harmanpreet Kaur continues to lead the Indian core, while Amelia Kerr, Hayley Matthews and Natalie Sciver-Brunt provide MI with considerable all-round strength.
Mumbai Indians have seven slots available ahead of the October 28 auction. The franchise itself confirmed the retention list and the auction and season dates on September 28.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru retained players
RCB’s retention list was always going to attract significant attention, particularly because of the speculation surrounding Ellyse Perry.
The Australian star has now been confirmed as part of RCB’s plans for WPL 2027.
Retained players: Arundhati Reddy, Lauren Bell, Prathyoosha Kumar, Richa Ghosh, Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry, Nadine de Klerk, Prema Rawat, Sayali Satghare, Georgia Voll, Pooja Vastrakar, Radha Yadav and Shreyanka Patil.
Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh and Ellyse Perry form a familiar core, while Georgia Voll, Nadine de Klerk, Lauren Bell and the Indian bowling options add depth to the squad.
RCB have retained 13 players, leaving five slots for the auction. The defending champions will therefore have limited room to make changes, with their focus likely to be on filling specific gaps rather than rebuilding the squad.
UP Warriorz retained players
UP Warriorz have retained 11 players for WPL 2027, with former Australia captain Meg Lanning, India all-rounder Deepti Sharma and England spinner Sophie Ecclestone among the major names staying with the franchise.
Retained players: Deepti Sharma, Harleen Deol, Kranti Gaud, Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield, Pratika Rawal, Shikha Pandey, Shipra Giri, Simran Shaikh, Sophie Ecclestone and Tara Norris.
The Warriorz have mixed experience with younger players, keeping Lanning and Deepti alongside Phoebe Litchfield, Pratika Rawal and Kranti Gaud.
With 11 players retained, UP Warriorz have seven slots available at the auction, including two overseas slots.
WPL 2027 auction: how many slots are left?
The retention process has left 27 total slots across the five teams.
| Team | Players retained | Slots remaining |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi Capitals | 13 | 5 |
| Gujarat Giants | 15 | 3 |
| Mumbai Indians | 11 | 7 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 13 | 5 |
| UP Warriorz | 11 | 7 |
| Total | 63 | 27 |
Gujarat Giants have the smallest vacancy with only three slots available, while Mumbai Indians and UP Warriorz have the most space with seven slots each. RCB and Delhi Capitals both have five slots left.
There are also overseas-player slots to consider. RCB and UP Warriorz have two overseas slots remaining, while Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants and Mumbai Indians have one each.
WPL 2027 auction date and season schedule
The WPL 2027 auction will take place in Kochi on October 28, 2026. Players released by the franchises can enter the auction pool, giving teams an opportunity to address gaps in their squads.
The fifth WPL season will then begin on January 14, 2027, with the tournament scheduled to conclude with the final on February 7.
The retention decisions mean that most of the major stars will continue with their existing franchises. RCB have kept their core around Mandhana and Perry, Mumbai Indians have retained Harmanpreet, Matthews, Kerr and Sciver-Brunt, while Delhi have kept Jemimah, Shafali, Wolvaardt and Kapp.
For Gujarat Giants, the retention of Gardner, Mooney and Devine keeps their international experience intact. UP Warriorz, meanwhile, have retained a group built around Lanning, Deepti Sharma, Ecclestone and Litchfield.
That makes the October auction an interesting next step. With only 27 places available, competition for the remaining spots could be intense, particularly among players released from the five existing squads and new names entering the WPL auction pool.
For fans, the biggest question now is not who has been retained, but which released players will find a new home at the WPL 2027 auction.
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