The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday announced the schedule for the fifth edition of the Women's Premier League (WPL), with the tournament set to begin on January 14, 2027, and conclude on February 7.
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will face Mumbai Indians (MI) in the opening match in Vadodara, setting up a contest between the two teams that have dominated the competition since its inception in 2023.
The announcement marks the next stage of preparations for the five-team tournament, which will bring together leading Indian and international cricketers.
RCB will enter the competition seeking a third championship after winning the title in 2024 and 2026, while Mumbai Indians will also aim for a third trophy, having emerged champions in 2023 and 2025.
๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ถ๐๐น๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ
Led by Smriti Mandhana, Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured their second WPL title earlier this year after defeating Delhi Capitals by six wickets in the final at Vadodara.
The victory made RCB the second franchise after Mumbai Indians to win the tournament twice.
The opening encounter of the 2027 edition will therefore bring together the competition's two most successful teams, both seeking to establish an early advantage.
Alongside RCB and Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz will compete for the championship.
๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐บ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ
The tournament will feature the same five franchises that have participated since the league's inaugural season in 2023.
Delhi Capitals will be seeking their maiden title after reaching the final in each of the first four editions. Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz will also be looking to challenge the established contenders.
The competition has emerged as an important platform for Indian women's cricket, providing opportunities for domestic players to compete alongside leading international cricketers.
๐๐๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ
Preparations for the fifth season included the player retention process, which concluded on September 28, followed by the WPL player auction at the Grand Hyatt Kochi on October 28.
The auction allowed the five franchises to strengthen their squads and address gaps ahead of the upcoming season.
The 2027 competition will follow a successful fourth edition, which was staged across Navi Mumbai and Vadodara between January 9 and February 5, 2026.
๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ณ
The fifth edition will conclude on February 7, bringing nearly four weeks of women's franchise cricket to an end.
The league has become a major fixture in India's cricket calendar since its introduction, with the BCCI positioning it as a platform to develop emerging talent and increase the visibility of women's cricket.
The opening encounter between RCB and Mumbai Indians will renew a rivalry that has produced several closely contested matches, while the remaining franchises will seek to challenge their dominance.
The BCCI's latest announcement confirms the opening fixture and tournament window. The complete match-by-match schedule should be consulted for the remaining fixtures and venue-specific arrangements.