RCB team lifting WPL trophy [Source: AFP]The Women's Premier League is set for another significant change in 2027, with the next auction and the tournament's venue plans already out for public speculation. The BCCI is looking at a new window for the squad-building event, while the league is also preparing to take its matches to a new city. Varanasi's upcoming international cricket stadium has emerged as one of the venues being considered for the next edition, potentially giving the WPL 2027 a major new setting. Mumbai and Vadodara are also part of the venue discussions as preparations for the fifth season gather pace.WPL 2027 Auction to be held in OctoberThe WPL 2027 auction has been tentatively scheduled for October 28 in Kochi, as per a report from TOI, marking a shift from the late-November and December window that has generally been used for the event in recent seasons.WPL auctions are also considerably shorter than their IPL counterpart. With only five franchises and squad sizes capped at 18 players, the entire process is generally completed in a single day.The auction is expected to be a mini-auction, following the major squad reshuffle that took place ahead of WPL 2026. The previous auction was the first mega-auction in WPL history, meaning the five franchises were given the opportunity to rebuild their squads under new retention and Right to Match rules.With those cores now established, the 2027 auction should be considerably more targeted. Released players, overseas availability and emerging domestic performers could therefore be the primary targets.Also Read- List Of Titles Won By Harmanpreet Kaur As India CaptainVaranasi Stadium set to host Ranji Trophy and WPL matchesThe biggest development, however, could come from Varanasi. The city's new international cricket stadium, currently being constructed in Ganjari, Rajatalab, has been identified as a potential WPL 2027 venue as per Abhishek Tripathi from Jagran News. If preparations stay on schedule, the stadium could host its first major cricketing assignment when the women's league arrives next year.The facility is being developed by the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association under BCCI guidance, with L&T handling the construction. Its foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2023.The stadium is being built across a 30.6-acre campus and is expected to feature nine turf pitches. Its drainage system is also designed to deal with heavy rainfall and quickly make the playing surface ready.Before the WPL, a Ranji Trophy match could be used as a testing ground for the new facility in October-November. A successful domestic fixture would provide an important check of the pitch, drainage, ground operations and other match-day infrastructure before the venue stages WPL cricket.Mumbai's CCI and Vadodara in line to be the second venueMumbai's historic Brabourne Stadium, operated by the Cricket Club of India (CCI), is also set to feature in the WPL 2027 venue plans.Brabourne has a strong connection with the league's early history. It hosted matches during the inaugural 2023 season and later returned to the spotlight during WPL 2025, when it staged the Eliminator and final.Vadodara's Kotambi Stadium is another venue identified in the discussions. The modern facility became part of the WPL's expanding geographical footprint in 2025, when it hosted the opening matches of the season. It also played a central role in the 2026 edition.Nevertheless, the final decision will depend on the readiness and logistical requirements of the new Varanasi facility, with the Ranji Trophy assignment potentially serving as its first major test before WPL 2027 arrives.Also Read- Aaqib Javed Breaks Silence On His Exit From Pakistan Cricket
