The Women’s Premier League (WPL) is preparing for its 2027 season, with the auction tentatively scheduled for October 28 in Kochi. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) discussed the plans at a virtual WPL Governing Council meeting on Tuesday. The meeting also discussed the possibility of taking the tournament to Varanasi for the first time. Mumbai and Vadodara are currently in line to host matches, while Varanasi remains under consideration.
Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium and the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara are the two venues currently in line to host the tournament. However, the BCCI will inspect the Varanasi venue before deciding whether it can be included. Until that assessment is completed, Mumbai and Vadodara remain the venues in the current plans for WPL 2027. The inspection will help the BCCI decide if Varanasi can be ready in time for the tournament.
A source told Sportstar that the BCCI will inspect the Varanasi venue before making a final decision. “The BCCI team will inspect whether the venue in Varanasi can be ready by then and, accordingly, a call will be taken on hosting matches there. For now, it’s Mumbai and Vadodara,” the source said. Varanasi therefore remains in the discussion, while Mumbai and Vadodara are the two venues currently in line to host matches.
WPL 2027 to be Played in January-February
The WPL is expected to be played in the January-February window in 2027, despite India hosting the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy in mid-February. Brabourne Stadium and Kotambi Stadium are also slated to host Champions Trophy matches. This means the two tournaments will be held very close to each other. The same venues could be used for matches from both events during this period.
The close schedule will make venue planning important for the BCCI. Brabourne Stadium and Kotambi Stadium are in line for WPL matches and are also expected to stage Champions Trophy games. With the WPL coming in January-February and the Champions Trophy taking place in mid-February, there will be limited time between the two tournaments. The BCCI will therefore have to plan the use of these venues carefully.
The WPL has been restricted to two locations in previous seasons, except in 2025, when it was staged across four cities. Taking the tournament to Varanasi would give the league a new market and bring matches to the city for the first time. The BCCI will decide on its inclusion after checking the venue. For now, Mumbai and Vadodara remain the two locations in line to host the 2027 season.
For UP Warriorz, Varanasi would also have a special connection as it would serve as the franchise’s home venue. If the BCCI includes the city, UP Warriorz would have a home venue for only the second time. The franchise previously played in Lucknow in 2025. Varanasi would therefore give the team another home venue while also taking the tournament to a new city. The earlier home venue was Lucknow.
The 2027 WPL plans are still being worked out, but the auction is tentatively scheduled for October 28 in Kochi. Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium and Vadodara’s Kotambi Stadium remain the venues currently in line, while Varanasi will be assessed before a decision is made. The January-February window will place the WPL close to the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy in mid-February. The BCCI will continue working on the venue plans before the tournament schedule is confirmed by the BCCI.
(Inputs sources from Sportstar)
Loves all things female cricket