The Wankhede Stadium will host the Mumbai leg of the 2027 Women’s Premier League instead of the Brabourne Stadium, following a venue shift announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
- Fantasy valuations for top-order power hitters from Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru may be influenced given Wankhede Stadium will now host the Mumbai leg of the WPL.
The Brabourne Stadium, managed by the Cricket Club of India, was initially slated to host 11 matches during the second half of the tournament, running from January 26 to February 7, as reported by Cricinfo. That schedule included the Eliminator and the final. According to a BCCI release issued on Sunday, the dates and fixtures for the Mumbai leg remain unchanged despite the relocation.
The International Cricket Council requested the venue alteration because the Cricket Club of India is scheduled to host the inaugural Champions Trophy 2027, which begins on February 14.
The WPL Committee approved the request after determining that the interval between the conclusion of the TATA WPL and the start of the multi-nation tournament would not provide sufficient time for the pitches to recover, Cricbuzz reported. Sportstar said that the Brabourne Stadium is also hosting men’s matches in the ongoing domestic season.
Railways played two matches at the CCI in the first leg of the Ranji Trophy and is scheduled to play another match there against Haryana from January 17 to 20. This tournament marks the first time the Wankhede Stadium will host the WPL, which has previously staged matches in Mumbai at the Brabourne Stadium and the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
The fifth edition of the WPL begins in Vadodara on January 14 with an opening match between defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians, with all games scheduled to start at 7:30 pm local time. Vadodara will host the first 11 matches from January 14 to 25 before the tournament shifts to Mumbai, according to the Cricbuzz report.
| Tournament Phase | Host Venue | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Leg | Vadodara | January 14 – January 25 |
| Mumbai League Phase | Wankhede Stadium | January 26 – February 3 |
| Eliminator | Wankhede Stadium | February 5 |
| Final | Wankhede Stadium | February 7 |
The league phase in Mumbai concludes on February 3 when the Delhi Capitals face the UP Warriorz. The Wankhede Stadium hosts the Eliminator on February 5 and the final on February 7.
The closing stages of the WPL coincide with England’s tour of Sri Lanka for three T20Is. Senior England players, including captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, are permitted to miss the bilateral series from February 1 to 5 if their respective franchises qualify for the final stages of the WPL. Sciver-Brunt, along with Lauren Bell and Sophie Ecclestone, were retained by Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and UP Warriorz respectively.
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