Ahead of the WPL 2027 auction, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Friday released four players – overseas stars Grace Harris and Linsey Smith along with Indian players D Hemalatha and Gautami Naik. This follows RCB’s title-winning WPL 2026 campaign and comes ahead of the player auction in Kochi. WPL 2027 auction: October 28Date of new season: January 14-February 7, 2027
Among RCB’s big overseas signings at the WPL 2026 auction was Grace Harris. The Aussie allrounder was bought for INR 75 lakh and went on to form part of a side that lifted the WPL trophy. RCB also bought in Harris as someone who could do with both bat and ball.
In the 2026 season, Harris scored 237 runs and contributed significantly to RCB’s title win. She can up the scoring rate which added a lot of depth to the middle-order [when she was available] and helped franchise reclaim her in 2027 auction but want to release her before.
Another overseas player returning to the auction pool is England left-arm spinner Linsey Smith. Smith was bought by RCB at her base price of INR 30 lakh in the auction ahead of the 2026 season. The spinner, who joined alongside overseas team-mate Lauren Bell, was brought in to bolster the bowling ranks of the franchise.
Smith’s release will give franchises one more experienced overseas bowling option when the auction comes around.
RCB have also let go Indian players D Hemalatha and Gautami Naik. Both players were in the squad chosen for WPL 2026. RCB secured Hemalatha for INR 30 lakh and picked up Gautami Naik, who went unsold in the last auction at her base price of INR 10 lakh.
The changes provide RCB an opportunity to rebuild before the next season and they could possibly use their remaining kitty to bolster areas of need.
One of the major positives for RCB ahead of 2027 season is that Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry should be released to play. RCB had retained Perry, who didn’t take part in WPL 2026 for personal reasons.
As the WPL 2027 auction draws ever closer, RCB’s release of four players now makes things a little more interesting when it comes to finalising their squad. Franchise has now balanced its retained base with new additions at the auction in Kochi on October 28.
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