WPL 2027 Dates Confirmed as Tournament Clashes With Border-Gavaskar Trophy

The schedule for the 2027 edition of the Women’s Premier League has been officially confirmed, with the fifth season set to begin on January 14 and conclude on February 7. The announcement gives teams clarity ahead of the player retention deadline and auction, while also setting up an unusual period for Indian cricket fans.

The WPL window will overlap with the beginning of the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia. The men's Test series is scheduled to start on January 21, meaning the WPL and BGT will run simultaneously for a significant part of January and early February.

WPL 2027 to Begin on January 14

The BCCI has confirmed that WPL 2027 will run from January 14 to February 7. It will be the fifth edition of the tournament, which has become an important part of the women's domestic cricket calendar in India.

The league will feature the same five franchises that have competed in the current WPL structure. The official announcement also confirmed the important squad-building dates leading into the tournament.

Retention Deadline Set for September 28

The five WPL franchises have been given September 28, 2026, as the deadline to finalize their player retention decisions. Teams will use this stage to determine which players remain part of their squads before entering the auction process.

The retention decisions will have a major impact on the composition of the squads heading into the fifth season, with franchises expected to balance continuity with opportunities to strengthen their teams.

WPL Auction Scheduled in Kochi

After the retention deadline, the next major event will be the WPL player auction. The auction is scheduled for October 28, 2026, at the Grand Hyatt in Kochi.

The auction will give all five franchises an opportunity to complete their squads for the 2027 campaign. With the tournament dates now confirmed, teams can plan their recruitment strategies around the January-February window.

Border-Gavaskar Trophy Starts During WPL

The most notable aspect of the WPL 2027 calendar is its overlap with India's home Test series against Australia. According to the BCCI's international home-season schedule, the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy begins on January 21, 2027, in Nagpur.

The second Test will be played in Chennai from January 29 to February 2. The third Test is scheduled for Guwahati from February 11 to 15, followed by Tests in Ranchi and Ahmedabad later in the series.

Complete Border-Gavaskar Trophy Schedule

The India-Australia Test series is scheduled across five venues. The first Test will take place in Nagpur from January 21 to 25, followed by the Chennai Test from January 29 to February 2.

The third Test is scheduled in Guwahati from February 11 to 15, while Ranchi will host the fourth Test from February 19 to 23. The series will conclude in Ahmedabad, with the fifth Test scheduled from February 27 to March 3.

A Busy Period for Indian Cricket

The overlapping calendars mean Indian cricket will have two major competitions running around the same period. WPL matches will provide a daily franchise-cricket spectacle, while the India-Australia Test series will attract attention from traditional red-ball cricket followers.

The overlap could also become relevant for players who are involved in both international and franchise cricket. Teams and players will have to manage workload, travel and availability carefully as the two competitions progress.

Focus Turns to the Fifth WPL Season

With the dates officially announced, the immediate focus will shift to the retention decisions and auction. September 28 will be the first major deadline for the franchises, followed by the auction in Kochi on October 28.

The 2027 WPL season will then begin on January 14 and run until February 7. Its scheduling alongside the early stages of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will make January and February particularly significant months on the Indian cricket calendar.

What Comes Next

The next major developments will be the announcement of the players retained and released by the five franchises. The auction will then determine the final squad combinations before preparations begin for the new season.

For fans, WPL 2027 promises a packed start to the new year, with women's franchise cricket taking place alongside one of India's biggest Test assignments. The confirmed calendar ensures that both competitions will share the spotlight during an important stretch of the 2026-27 cricket season.