The Women’s Premier League has informed franchises that injured players Pratika Rawal, Yastika Bhatia, and VJ Joshitha will remain in the auction pool for the upcoming season, but cannot be included in squad counts or replaced later if a team chooses to buy them.
Injured Trio Stays in Auction List
During Wednesday’s pre-auction briefing, WPL officials clarified that although Rawal, Bhatia, and Joshitha are currently sidelined due to injuries, the league will still allow them to be part of the auction proceedings.
However, teams have been advised that the three players will not count toward the mandatory 15-player squad requirement. Should a franchise pick any of them, they will have to carry that player through the season without the option of naming a replacement, regardless of fitness status.
Fitness Updates on Vastrakar and Kashvee
The WPL also shared updates on other Indian players recovering from injuries:
- Pooja Vastrakar is still on the road to full fitness but will be available for bidding.
- Kashvee Gautam has been cleared as match-ready and fully eligible for selection.
Jess Jonassen Withdraws from Auction
In a setback for potential bidders, Australian all-rounder Jess Jonassen has opted out of the WPL auction after suffering an injury.
Jonassen, 33, has been one of the standout performers in the league’s short history, earning five Player-of-the-Match awards — second only to Harmanpreet Kaur. She is understood to be dealing with a persistent shoulder issue and has withdrawn to prioritise rehabilitation.
Star-Studded Marquee List for WPL 2026
Despite key withdrawals, the marquee set for the upcoming auction remains one of the strongest yet. It includes global superstars:
- Alyssa Healy
- Meg Lanning
- Amelia Kerr
- Laura Wolvaardt
Indian regulars Deepti Sharma and Renuka Singh round off the marquee names, ensuring a competitive start to the bidding.
Auction Structure: 276 Players, 73 Available Slots
This year’s mega auction features 276 players, comprising:
- 194 Indian players
- 82 overseas players
The five franchises will collectively look to fill 73 squad slots, broken down into:
- 50 Indian spots
- 23 overseas spots
Every team must build a squad of 15 to 18 players.
Four associate cricketers also feature in the auction list:
Theertha Satish and Esha Oza (UAE), Tara Norris (USA), and Thipatcha Putthawong (Thailand).
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