In anticipation of the Women’s Premier League 2027 auction, Mumbai Indians have released wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini. The move was confirmed by the franchise on September 28, 2026, as part of a broader round of squad trimming that ultimately resulted in the release of six players in advance of the WPL 2027 player auction, which is scheduled to take place in Kochi on October 28.
On December 30, 2025, Kamalini, an 18-year-old, made her T20I debut for India against Sri Lanka. She has already participated in senior international cricket and has contributed to significant Indian team accomplishments, such as the Women’s Asia Cup victory in Dubai and the gold medal she won at the Asian Games in Japan, despite her youth.
The five-team tournament, WPL 2027, is scheduled to begin on January 14 and conclude on February 7, 2027. Prior to the commencement of the season, the tournament will be auctioned. The decision to release Kamalini is believed to be primarily motivated by a substantial scheduling conflict.
Kamalini’s release was influenced by the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup. What was the reason for this?
The WPL 2027 window is anticipated to coincide with the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in Nepal and Bangladesh. Mumbai Indians’ retention of Kamalini could have resulted in her being unavailable for a substantial portion of the tournament, given the aforementioned conflict. The Women in Blue are the incumbent champions of the global event, having won the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup in both 2023 and 2025. Kamalini is a promising candidate for the India Women squad, given her recent international experience and age.
Retaining a player who may miss matches due to an international commitment of that magnitude presents a practical challenge for a franchise that is developing a competitive roster. Allowing both the player and the Harmanpreet Kaur-led team to plan their respective seasons without that constraint, Kamalini was released prior to the auction. Kamalini will be available for all five franchises to bid on at the WPL 2027 auction in Kochi on October 28. Her record of senior honours at such a tender age is likely to pique the interest of other teams in the competition.
What has Kamalini accomplished in the realm of Indian cricket thus far?
Kamalini has already achieved significant accolades at the senior level, despite being an adolescent. She was a member of the Indian team that emerged victorious in the Women’s Asia Cup in Dubai and also played a role in India’s gold medal-winning campaign at the Asian Games in Japan. Her performances underscore her status as one of the most promising young wicketkeeper-batters in Indian women’s cricket.
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Kamalini’s unique position in Indian women’s cricket is indicative of the rare combination of senior international experience and eligibility for the Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup. She is a player whose immediate future spans both senior formats and age groups simultaneously. Although her dual eligibility is a testament to her talent, it is precisely this circumstance that has rendered her retention a complex issue for the Mumbai Indians in the lead-up to the 2027 WPL.
