WPL 2027 Retention List: Every Player Kept and Released by All Five Teams

The WPL 2027 retention list has taken shape, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, UP Warriorz and Gujarat Giants making their squad decisions before the 28 October auction in Kochi. Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma and Ashleigh Gardner remain at the centre of their teams’ plans, while Grace Harris, Saika Ishaque, Alana King, Kiran Navgire and Danni Wyatt-Hodge are among the notable releases reported on retention day.

WPL 2027 retention list: Quick team-by-team summary

The list shows two different approaches. Gujarat and Delhi have kept most of their structure, while Mumbai and UP Warriorz have opened more places for the auction. Defending champions RCB sit between those positions: their title-winning core survives, but four releases create room for targeted additions.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru WPL 2027 retained and released players

RCB Retained Players

Arundhati Reddy; Ellyse Perry; Georgia Voll; Lauren Bell; Nadine de Klerk; Pooja Vastrakar; Prathyoosha Kumar; Prema Rawat; Radha Yadav; Richa Ghosh; Shreyanka Patil; Smriti Mandhana.

RCB released players

Dayalan Hemalatha; Gautami Naik; Grace Harris; Linsey Smith.

RCB’s decision to keep Perry is the headline. Her return gives the defending champions a world-class all-round option without forcing them to rebuild the top half of the squad. Mandhana and Richa continue to provide an established Indian batting and wicketkeeping base, while Shreyanka, Radha and Pooja preserve spin, pace and all-round depth.

Grace Harris is the most eye-catching exit. Her power can alter a T20 match quickly, so her name should draw attention in Kochi. From RCB’s perspective, releasing her may be about combination and overseas-slot flexibility rather than a judgment on ability.

Mandhana’s place in the core was never in serious doubt. Her retention also gives 4xSports readers a direct link to her wider international form through our Smriti Mandhana career milestone report.

Mumbai Indians WPL 2027 retained and released players

MI Retained Players

Harmanpreet Kaur; Nat Sciver-Brunt; Amelia Kerr; Hayley Matthews; Amanjot Kaur; Shabnim Ismail; Nicola Carey; Sanskriti Gupta; S Sajana; Vaishnavi Sharma; Rahila Firdous.

MI Released Players

Saika Ishaque; G Kamalini; Poonam Khemnar; Triveni Vasistha; Milly Illingworth; Nalla Kranthi Reddy.

Mumbai have protected the players who define their strongest combinations. Harmanpreet remains the leadership figure, Sciver-Brunt and Matthews cover several match situations, Kerr supplies leg-spin and middle-order control, and Ismail brings high pace.

The tougher calls are among the Indian players. Saika Ishaque has played a visible role in Mumbai’s WPL story, while G Kamalini arrived with significant long-term promise. Releasing both suggests the two-time champions want new options rather than a cosmetic auction.

MI still have a strong first-choice spine. The October auction will tell us whether they prioritise a wicketkeeper-batter, an Indian spinner or greater depth around their overseas stars.

Delhi Capitals WPL 2027 retained and released players

DC Retained Players

Jemimah Rodrigues; Shafali Verma; Marizanne Kapp; Laura Wolvaardt; Annabel Sutherland; Nandni Sharma; Niki Prasad; Minnu Mani; Sree Charani; Chinelle Henry; Lucy Hamilton; Deeya Yadav; Mamatha Madiwala.

DC Released Players

Alana King; Taniyaa Bhatia; Sneh Rana; Lizelle Lee; Eddla Srujana; Pragati Singh.

Delhi’s retained group is built around batting continuity and high-value all-rounders. Shafali can break a powerplay open, Jemimah can control tempo, Wolvaardt offers top-order stability, and Kapp remains one of the most flexible overseas players in the league.

The release of Alana King removes a proven leg-spinner from the group. Lizelle Lee and Taniyaa Bhatia leaving also changes the wicketkeeping and opening-batting picture. Delhi have retained enough players to avoid a full reset, but the auction must restore balance rather than simply add reserve names.

Shafali’s growing international record adds another layer to the decision. Read the related Shafali Verma 3,000 T20I runs milestone story for recent context on her value at the top.

UP Warriorz WPL 2027 retained and released players

UP Warriorz Retained Players

Meg Lanning; Deepti Sharma; Sophie Ecclestone; Phoebe Litchfield; Harleen Deol; Pratika Rawal; Shikha Pandey; Kranti Gaud; Simran Shaikh; Tara Norris; Shipra Giri.

UP Warriorz Released Players

Kiran Navgire; Deandra Dottin; Chloe Tryon; Shweta Sehrawat; Amy Jones; Asha Sobhana.

UP Warriorz have chosen a clear leadership-and-spin foundation. Lanning brings elite captaincy experience, Deepti is an Indian all-round anchor, and Ecclestone remains a match-winning left-arm spinner. Litchfield gives the batting group a young overseas player with a high ceiling.

The release list is aggressive. Navgire’s hitting, Tryon’s all-round skill and Dottin’s power could all attract auction interest. Amy Jones was used as an injury replacement during WPL 2026, so her exit also simplifies the wicketkeeping picture.

UPW’s challenge is now obvious: add boundary-hitting depth without weakening the bowling balance. Their retained core can control games, but the auction must supply enough acceleration for high-scoring conditions.

Gujarat Giants WPL 2027 retained and released players

Gujarat Giants Retained Players

Ashleigh Gardner; Beth Mooney; Sophie Devine; Georgia Wareham; Renuka Singh; Yastika Bhatia; Kim Garth; Kashvee Gautam; Rajeshwari Gayakwad; Tanuja Kanwer; Kanika Ahuja; Bharti Fulmali; Jintimani Kalita; Anushka Sharma; Happy Kumari.

Gujarat Giants Released Players

Aayushi Soni; Danni Wyatt-Hodge; Shivani Singh; Titas Sadhu.

Gujarat have kept 15 players in the current reported list, the largest group among the five teams. That protects continuity but leaves only three places below the 18-player maximum reported by Sportstar.

Gardner and Mooney remain the central overseas pair, while Devine adds power and experience. Wareham, Garth and Renuka give the bowling unit multiple phases of coverage. The retention of Jintimani Kalita, who joined as an injury replacement for Titas Sadhu in 2026, and the reported release of Titas is one of the more interesting roster decisions.

Wyatt-Hodge returning to the pool would offer other teams an experienced top-order option. Gujarat’s auction may therefore be selective: they need the right three players, not a long shopping list.

Which WPL 2027 releases could trigger an auction battle?

Several released names offer immediate value rather than development-only potential.

Grace Harris brings power and off-spin. Alana King offers attacking leg-spin. Saika Ishaque is an Indian left-arm spinner with league experience. Kiran Navgire can change a chase with boundary hitting, while Danni Wyatt-Hodge brings years of international T20 experience.

Teams will still have to account for overseas limits, role overlap and purse availability. A famous name does not automatically fit every squad. For example, a side already carrying several overseas batters may prefer an Indian bowler even if a stronger international player is available.

That is why this mini-auction should be more tactical than dramatic. Most teams have kept a working core. The best buys may be the players who fill one exact gap.

WPL 2027 auction date, venue and squad rules

The official WPL schedule and auction advisory confirms the key dates:

Sportstar’s retention-day guide reported that there is no fixed cap on how many existing players a team can retain. The final squad can contain no more than 18 players, including a maximum of six overseas players, within a ₹15 crore salary cap.

Those limits explain the strategy behind the lists. Gujarat can add only a few names if all 15 reported retentions remain in the final advisory. Teams with more vacancies can be more active, but they also have more roles to fill.

What happens next after the WPL 2027 retentions?

The next major step is the player pool for the Kochi auction. Franchises will compare the available players with their remaining slots, overseas quota and purse room. The official auction list will then show which released players have registered and which new domestic or international names are available.

Until that document is released, claims about a player’s base price or a franchise’s exact target should be treated as reports, not confirmed auction plans.

The fifth WPL season begins on 14 January 2027 and ends on 7 February. Between now and then, squad construction will dominate the news cycle. Follow the 4xSports cricket section for verified auction updates, and revisit our Women’s Asia Cup match coverage for more women’s cricket news.

Bookmark this WPL 2027 retention tracker. We will update the player lists, available slots and auction picture when the WPL publishes its central advisory or a franchise issues a correction.

WPL 2027 retention FAQs