WPL 2027 Schedule: RCB Take On MI in the Opener as the Season Runs 14 January to 7 February

The fifth season of the Women's Premier League will run from Thursday, 14 January to Sunday, 7 February 2027. The BCCI announced the schedule on 4 November. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) open the season against Mumbai Indians (MI) in Vadodara. That puts the two most successful teams in the league's history, with two titles each, on the field on day one.

Two cities, 11 matches each

The season is split evenly between two venues:

• Vadodara: the Kotambi Stadium hosts the first 11 league matches, from 14 to 24 January.
• Mumbai: after a one-day break, the Brabourne Stadium at the Cricket Club of India (CCI) hosts the last nine league matches from 26 January to 3 February, then the Eliminator on 5 February and the final on 7 February.

Every match, including the knockouts, starts at 7:30 pm IST. Last season was also played in two cities, Navi Mumbai and Vadodara. This time the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai is being renovated, so Mumbai's games move to the Brabourne Stadium.

Format

The five teams play each other twice, for 20 league matches and eight games per team. The team that tops the table goes straight to the final. The second- and third-placed teams meet in the Eliminator, and the winner faces the table-toppers in the final.

Full schedule

The BCCI can change the schedule, so check back before each match.

RCB vs MI: a rivalry for the opener

RCB and MI have shared the four titles so far. MI won the first season in 2023 and again in 2025. RCB won in 2024 and are the defending champions after their 2026 title. They meet twice in the league: in the opener in Vadodara, and again on Republic Day, 26 January, in the first match of the Mumbai leg.

Auction headlines

• Sophie Molineux, the Australia captain, was the most expensive buy at the WPL 2027 auction, joining UP Warriorz for ₹1.1 crore.
• Kiran Navgire was the costliest Indian player, bought by Delhi Capitals for ₹75 lakh.
• England's Nat Sciver-Brunt (MI), Lauren Bell (RCB) and Sophie Ecclestone (UP Warriorz) were retained by their teams.

A busy February

The last days of the WPL overlap with England's three-match T20I tour of Sri Lanka, from 1 to 5 February. Senior England players, including captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, may stay for the WPL knockouts if their franchises qualify. A week after the WPL final, the same two grounds host the first six-team Women's Champions Trophy, from 14 to 28 February.

Get ready

That gives you about ten weeks to study the new squads before the opener. Follow Fantasy11 for squad updates and match previews through the season.