The Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 auction held in New Delhi on Thursday saw a shocking turn of events as Australian captain and star wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy went unsold. This came as a surprise, considering her experience and stature in international cricket. Healy, who had a base price of Rs 50 lakh, found no takers among the five franchises.
Several factors contributed to Healy's unexpected fate at the auction. According to UP Warriorz (UPW) head coach Abhishek Nayar, Healy's specialization as a wicketkeeper-batter limited her options. With teams allowed only four overseas players in the playing XI, many preferred all-rounders to maximize their squad composition. "When you're allowed only four overseas players [in the XI], your options are limited, and many teams prefer all-rounders in their set-up," Nayar said. "It's a tough situation for someone of her stature".
Anya Shrubsole, the assistant coach of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), echoed this sentiment, stating that Healy did not fit into their team's combination. RCB already has a strong top order and the presence of Georgia Voll, who provides off-spin, further solidified their decision. Shrubsole explained, "We have a very strong top order, and Georgia Voll gives us some offspin as well". "With Richa Ghosh [as a wicketkeeper-batter] in the top five, going for Healy didn't make sense for us,".
Healy's recent form and fitness concerns may have also played a role in the franchises' reluctance to bid for her. She has been struggling with fitness issues since last year's T20 World Cup and has also had inconsistent performances in the ongoing Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) season. Although she scored consecutive hundreds against India and Bangladesh in the recent ODI World Cup, franchises might have been wary of her overall form and potential injury risk.
Despite these factors, the decision to not bid on Healy was still surprising, considering her experience and leadership skills as the Australian captain. In the 2023 WPL auction, UP Warriorz had acquired her for Rs 70 lakh. However, after two seasons, they released her, and she entered the 2026 auction at a lower base price of Rs 50 lakh.
The WPL 2026 auction witnessed other notable moments, including Deepti Sharma becoming the costliest buy, acquired by UP Warriorz for Rs 3.2 crore using the Right to Match (RTM) card. Fellow Australians Meg Lanning and Phoebe Litchfield were picked up by the UP Warriorz. Lanning, who is in great form in the WBBL, was bought for AU$326,000, while Litchfield went for $206,000.
The decision to leave Alyssa Healy unsold highlights the strategic considerations and squad composition priorities that franchises take into account during auctions. While Healy's absence is a surprise, the WPL 2026 promises to be an exciting tournament with a mix of established stars and emerging talents.
