The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 auction delivered a stunning upset as star Australian wicket-keeper batter Alyssa Healy found herself unsold. Despite her formidable reputation and a decorated career for Australia, Healy’s name was called early in the marquee player list but failed to attract any bids. Fans initially speculated that teams were strategically waiting for the accelerated round, but her name was never revisited. This unexpected snub has left many questioning the decisions made by franchises.
Following the auction, coaches from various teams offered insights into the surprising outcome. Abhishek Nayar, head coach of the UP Warriorz, highlighted the constraints of having only four overseas player slots in the playing XI. He explained that many franchises prioritize all-rounders in these limited positions, making it a challenging scenario for a specialist batter like Healy, regardless of her caliber.
Anya Shrubsole, head coach of Royal Challengers Bengaluru women, elaborated on her team’s specific strategy. She stated that RCB already possesses a formidable top order, featuring players like Georgia Wareham and Smriti Mandhana, and that including another specialist batter like Healy wouldn’t have fit their current team composition. Furthermore, with Richa Ghosh established as a wicket-keeper batter within their top five, acquiring Healy presented no strategic advantage for the Bengaluru franchise. Healy had entered the auction at a base price of Rs 50 lakh after being released by UP Warriorz, whom she had represented for the first two seasons.
