'It bolsters the team in all departments' - Malolan Rangarajan on Ellyse Perry's return to RCB for WPL 2027

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have confirmed that Ellyse Perry is available for WPL 2027 after she missed the franchise's title-winning 2026 campaign due to personal reasons. Perry indicated her availability in August 2026, and RCB have since retained her as part of their 13-player core ahead of the WPL 2027 Player Auction scheduled for October 28, 2026, in Kochi.

RCB's retained group comprises nine Indian players and four overseas players. Perry has been retained alongside fellow Aussie opener Georgia Voll, South African all-rounder Nadine de Klerk and English seamer Lauren Bell. Perry missed the 2026 season due to personal reasons in the lead-up to a tight schedule for the Australian side. Head coach Malolan Rangarajan welcomed the star all-rounder's return and elaborated on how she would improve the team structure.

"With Perry returning to our squad, it bolsters the team in all departments. She comes in as a batter at number three, and that got us thinking about how we could balance the squad and look for options in the auction," Rangarajan said, as quoted by the franchise.

What does Perry's return mean for RCB's squad balance?

Perry's return gives RCB a proven batting and bowling option at the top of their order. Her availability as a number-three batter directly shapes how the franchise will approach the remaining slots at the October 28 auction in Kochi, with Rangarajan confirming that her presence has already influenced their planning for the pool of players they will target. Rangarajan was clear about the standard expected from the retained group as a whole. Rangarajan also outlined the franchise's intent at the auction.

"We've had the benefit and privilege to be able to retain a major core of our squad, 13 players, nine Indians and four overseas. This is obviously a winning combination. But it's important for us to realize and the players to realize that we expect and they are expected to come in with improvements in their performance. The intent with which we're going to approach this auction is to improve our team," he said.

What is the next confirmed step in RCB's WPL 2027 preparations?

The WPL 2027 Player Auction is scheduled for October 28, 2026, in Kochi. RCB will enter that auction with 13 players already secured, leaving them room to add to their squad before the season begins.

The WPL 2027 season itself is scheduled to run from January 14 to February 7, 2027. RCB go into the cycle as the defending champions from their 2026 title win, with Perry now back in the fold after her absence from that campaign. Rangarajan addressed the franchise's supporters directly.

"The 12th man army has always been there for the team, always supported us through thick and thin. As a support staff, as a coaching staff, we pride our team playing to a specific style that inspires our fans, and we're sure we'll try to do that again next year, and we're absolutely certain that you guys will be there to support us even the next WPL," he said.