Alyssa Healy to Heather Knight: World Cup stars who went unsold at WPL 2026 mega auction

Alyssa Healy to Heather Knight: Why World Cup Stars went unsold at WPL 2026 mega auction

The WPL 2026 mega auction threw up its fair share of surprises, but none bigger than the number of recently active WODI World Cup players who shockingly went unsold. For a tournament that prides itself on star power, experience and proven pedigree, seeing several World Cup names go without a buyer was both eye-catching and, in some cases, entirely understandable. Here’s a closer look at why these seasoned internationals failed to attract bids despite featuring in the sport’s biggest tournament.

Australia’s Alyssa Healy, once the gold standard of aggressive wicketkeeping batters, has endured a rough year with recurring injuries. She has rarely completed a full tournament without concerns, which made franchises hesitant to invest heavily in a player whose availability appeared uncertain. A similar story played out with Darcie Brown, whose raw pace is undeniable, but her lack of consistent control, particularly her tendency to err in line and length, made teams wary of using a valuable overseas slot on her. Heather Graham also priced herself out of competition; at 50 lakhs, teams didn’t see her as value for money.

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England had a surprising number of omissions. Amy Jones, a high-quality keeper, was edged out by an auction trend towards Indian wicketkeepers, allowing teams to maximise overseas flexibility. Sophia Dunkley’s inconsistent returns and ongoing technical flaws meant she offered too much volatility at a time when franchises sought reliability. Heather Knight’s absence raised eyebrows, but at a 50-lakh base price, teams simply considered her too expensive, especially when she had previously been picked at 40 lakhs. Alice Capsey, despite the hype and opportunities with Delhi Capitals and England, did not convert potential into performance year after year, and this year selectors seemed to have run out of patience.

South Africa’s Tazmin Brits had to contend with unfortunate timing. By the time her name surfaced, most teams had already settled on their opening combinations. Her inconsistency at the international level only strengthened the perception that she was a risky pick this time around.

From India, Uma Chetry’s fortunes swung dramatically. Last year she went for 10 lakhs; this year she entered with a base price of 50 lakhs, a leap too steep for franchises, who felt she hadn’t yet justified that valuation.

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Bangladesh’s Marufa Akter and Rabeya Khan faced structural disadvantages in the auction. Marufa offers only powerplay overs and can neither bat nor bowl at the death, skills that have become non-negotiables in modern franchise cricket. Teams prioritised all-rounders this year, and she simply didn’t fit the blueprint. Rabeya, meanwhile, entered the fray after most teams had already filled up their spin departments.

New Zealand’s pair of Lea Tahuhu and Eden Carson also found no takers. = Teams preferred Indian pacers, and Tahuhu’s recent lack of impact didn’t help her cause. Carson, too, had not impressed enough in recent outings to convince franchises to take a chance.

The overarching theme? Risk appetite was low, and value-for-money was the mantra. Teams arrived at the auction with clearly defined strategies, one that favoured all-rounders, Indian keepers, and specialists who could offer multiple skills. Even World Cup participation wasn’t enough to override recent form, role limitations, injury concerns or steep base prices.

In the end, these unsold names underline a hard truth of franchise cricket: reputation alone cannot guarantee a contract; timing, form, versatility, and auction dynamics matter just as much.