Mumbai Indians have released G Kamalini ahead of the WPL 2027 auction, in a surprise decision involving one of India’s emerging young cricketers. The 18-year-old wicketkeeper-batter was part of India’s gold-medal-winning campaign at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, just days before MI announced their retention list.
Kamalini was part of the Indian squad that defeated Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the women’s T20 final on September 22. India posted 216 for 3, with Smriti Mandhana scoring 79, Shafali Verma making 48 and Richa Ghosh smashing an unbeaten 49, before bowling Sri Lanka out for 69. Kamalini did not get a chance to bat in the final, but was part of the gold-winning Indian squad.
The Asian Games gold added another major achievement to Kamalini’s rapidly developing career. She had already made history in the WPL by becoming the youngest player to debut in the competition. Kamalini made her MI debut against Gujarat Giants in February 2025 at the age of 16 years and 213 days, surpassing the previous record held by Shabnam Shakil.
Kamalini’s rise continued when she earned her senior India call-up in December 2025 and subsequently made her international debut. She had earlier been a key member of India’s Under-19 Women’s World Cup-winning team and had also starred in the Under-19 Asia Cup final against Pakistan.
MAJOR PLAYERS RELEASED BY FRANCHISES
Kamalini is among several notable names to be released ahead of the auction. MI have also let go of Saika Ishaque, Triveni Vasistha, Milly Illingworth, Kranthi Reddy and Poonam Khemnar.
Delhi Capitals have released Sneh Rana, Lizelle Lee and Alana King, while Gujarat Giants have moved on from England’s Danni Wyatt-Hodge and fast bowler Titas Sadhu. Royal Challengers Bengaluru have released Australia all-rounder Grace Harris and England’s Linsey Smith, along with Dayalan Hemalatha and Gautami Naik.
UP Warriorz, meanwhile, have released experienced names including West Indies veteran Deandra Dottin, England wicketkeeper Amy Jones and South African all-rounder Chloe Tryon, as well as India players Asha Sobhana, Kiran Navgire and Shweta Sehrawat.
The WPL 2027 auction will be held on October 28 in Kochi, with the fifth season scheduled to begin on January 14, 2027. The tournament is set to run until February 7.
WPL 2027: Retained and Released Players
Delhi Capitals
Retained: Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Annabel Sutherland, Marizanne Kapp, Laura Wolvaardt, Chinelle Henry, Lucy Hamilton, Minnu Mani, Niki Prasad, Sree Charani, Mamatha Madiwala, Nandni Sharma, Deeya Yadav
Released: Sneh Rana, Lizelle Lee, Alana King, Taniyaa Bhatia, Pragati Singh, Eddla Srujana
Gujarat Giants
Retained: Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner, Sophie Devine, Georgia Wareham, Kim Garth, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh, Kashvee Gautam, Tanuja Kanwer, Yastika Bhatia, Anushka Sharma, Bharti Fulmali, Kanika Ahuja, Happy Kumari, Jintimani Kalita
Released: Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Ayushi Soni, Titas Sadhu, Shivani Singh
Mumbai Indians
Retained: Harmanpreet Kaur, Natalie Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr, Hayley Matthews, Nicola Carey, Shabnim Ismail, Amanjot Kaur, Sajeevan Sajana, Sanskriti Gupta, Rahila Firdous, Vaishnavi Sharma
Released: G Kamalini, Saika Ishaque, Triveni Vasistha, Milly Illingworth, Kranthi Reddy, Poonam Khemnar
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Retained: Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Ellyse Perry, Georgia Voll, Lauren Bell, Nadine de Klerk, Shreyanka Patil, Pooja Vastrakar, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Sayali Satghare, Prema Rawat, Prathyoosha Kumar
Released: Grace Harris, Linsey Smith, Dayalan Hemalatha, Gautami Naik
UP Warriorz
Retained: Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield, Tara Norris, Harleen Deol, Shikha Pandey, Pratika Rawal, Kranti Gaud, Simran Shaikh, Shipra Giri
Released: Asha Sobhana, Deandra Dottin, Kiran Navgire, Shweta Sehrawat, Amy Jones, Chloe Tryon
– Ends
