There was significant drama today at the WPL 2026 mega auction. UP Warriors purchased Deepti Sharma for ₹2.60 crore, while Alyssa Healy, surprisingly, remained unsold.
Several new Indian faces shone in the auction, with a total of nearly 90 players selected.
Why Pratika Rawal goes unsold at WPL Auction 2026?
The most surprising news at the Women Premier League Auction 2026 was Pratika Rawal going unsold.
Many teams hoped this top-order batter would find a place in a franchise, but given her injury status, teams didn’t take the risk.
The WPL had already made it clear to all teams that Pratika Rawal, Yastika Bhatia, and VJ Joshitha were injured, and even if they were acquired, they would not be counted in the 15-player squad and could not be replaced.
Teams took a safe move
After this information was revealed during the pre-briefing before the auction began, teams changed their strategy. This is why no franchise bid for Pratika Rawal during the WPL Auction 2026.
For many teams, losing even a single slot would have harmed their long-term planning, so they prioritized fit and available players.
Meanwhile, the WPL updated that Pooja Vastrakar is still recovering but could be selected in the squad, while Kashvee Gautam is fully match-ready.
On the other hand, Australia’s Jess Jonassen also pulled out of the auction due to injury. She decided not to participate due to her shoulder problem.
Jess has been one of the most impactful players in WPL history so far, trailing only Harmanpreet Kaur in Player of the Match awards.
Big Names in the Spotlight
Star names like Alyssa Healy, Meg Lanning, Amelia Kerr, Laura Wolvaardt, Deepti Sharma, and Renuka Singh dominated the WPL Auction 2026.
A total of 276 players, including 194 Indians and 82 foreigners, were up for auction. Five teams were competing to fill 73 slots, which included 50 Indian and 23 foreign players. The squad limit was set at 15 to 18 players.
Pratika Rawal’s name repeatedly appeared on the screen, but she went unbidden. The risk of injury and the inability to replace her were two major factors that prevented her from being part of any team this time.
The Women Premier League and the teams clearly stated that players would not be directly included in the playing squad or squad until they were fit.
