The first-ever Women’s Premier League (WPL 2026) mega-auction, held earlier today in Delhi, delivered high drama and unexpected twists as several prominent international stars shockingly went unsold. While India all-rounder Deepti Sharma stole the spotlight by becoming the most expensive player of the day—secured by UP Warriorz for INR 3.2 crores—some of the game’s biggest global names found no takers.
Kiwi all-rounder Amelia Kerr emerged as the top overseas purchase, with Mumbai Indians sealing the deal for INR 3 crores. Yet, the auction headlines were equally shaped by the notable absentees who failed to attract a single bid.
Among the most surprising names was Alyssa Healy. The 35-year-old Australian wicketkeeper-batter entered the auction as part of the marquee set, but despite her vast experience and achievements, no franchise chose to invest. Even during the accelerated rounds, Healy’s name received no interest. Her recent form in the WBBL, where she managed only 65 runs in four innings at an average of 16.25, coupled with recurring injury concerns—including the foot injury that ruled her out of last season’s WPL—likely contributed to teams’ hesitancy. With a base price of INR 50 lakhs, franchises appeared unwilling to take an early gamble.
Another major exclusion was Australia’s premier white-ball spinner Alana King. Fresh off an impressive Women’s World Cup 2025 campaign, where she finished as the fifth-highest wicket-taker with 13 dismissals—including a memorable seven-wicket haul—King was widely expected to spark a bidding war. Instead, she surprisingly remained unsold, marking one of the auction’s most unexpected outcomes.
Former England captain Heather Knight faced a similar disappointment. Having featured for RCB in the league’s inaugural season but skipping the next for national duties, Knight has now gone unsold for the second consecutive auction. A hamstring injury earlier this year and her age—she is 34—may have influenced teams to prioritize younger prospects for the future.
England’s Amy Jones, a proven performer with over 2.5k ODI runs and 1.5k T20I runs, also endured another setback. Despite her strong reputation in leagues like the WBBL and The Hundred, this marked the third time—after 2023 and 2024—that she was overlooked at a WPL auction.
Rounding off the list is India’s Uma Chetry, who missed out due to limited wicketkeeping slots across teams. Released by UP Warriorz after two seasons, Chetry’s exclusion stood in stark contrast to Yastika Bhatia—whom she replaced in India’s 2025 World Cup squad—being picked up by Gujarat Titans for INR 50 lakhs.
These surprising omissions show the competitive nature of the WPL’s expanded player pool and the evolving strategies of franchises aiming to build for the future.
