The WPL 2026 Mega Auction had its share of headline-making buys, but some of the biggest surprises came not from blockbuster names, but from solid World Cup performers who were widely expected to be picked. Their unsold status raised eyebrows across the cricketing community. Here’s a deep dive into five such players and why their names ended up with no takers.
Alyssa Healy (Australia)
Alyssa Healy may no longer command the long-standing aura she once carried, but even then, many expected her to be snapped up, if not for star power, then for leadership and experience. Instead, her recent stretch of injuries proved too big a red flag. Over the past year, Healy has struggled to complete a single tournament without fitness concerns. For franchises balancing availability, workload, and squad stability, taking a chance on an overseas player with uncertain continuity didn’t make strategic sense.
Uma Chetry (India)
Uma Chetry’s unsold status stemmed less from form and more from valuation. Last season, she was picked for ₹10 lakh by UP Warriorz; this year, she entered the auction with a base price of ₹50 lakh. The steep jump worked against her. While Chetry has promise and has featured in major squads, teams felt she hadn’t yet justified such a price point, especially with several Indian wicketkeepers available at significantly lower brackets. Her case became a classic example of a young player whose self-valuation didn’t align with market dynamics.
Darcie Brown (Australia)
Darcie Brown’s exclusion was surprising only because quality pace is always in demand. However, Brown’s issue hasn’t been pace, it’s been control. Her tendency to err in both line and length has hurt her at crucial moments, and the WPL’s high-pressure environment leaves little room for such inconsistencies. Teams, particularly those already using overseas slots for all-rounders or finishers, opted for reliability over raw firepower.
Heather Knight (England)
Heather Knight, one of the most respected leaders in the women’s game, was still expected to find a buyer, not for explosiveness, but for her calm presence and tactical acumen. Yet, her 50-lakh base price became the stumbling block. For context, both times RCB picked her up previously, it was at 40 lakh. Knight remains a valued cricketer, but franchises simply weren’t willing to stretch to a higher valuation in an auction where overseas slots were at a premium and budgets were reserved for all-rounders.
Marufa Akter (Bangladesh)
Marufa Akter was tipped by many analysts as a likely buy, especially after featuring prominently for Bangladesh at the World Cup. Her challenge, however, lay in role limitation. She offers high-intensity powerplay overs but cannot bowl at the death and does not contribute with the bat. With teams prioritising multi-skilled players and all-rounders this year, such a specialised profile became difficult to fit in. As a result, despite expectations, Marufa found no takers.
In a year where auction strategies leaned heavily towards flexibility and all-round value, these five players, despite their World Cup presence and expectations, fell victim to market logic. Their unsold status reflects a larger trend: the WPL has matured into a league where versatility is currency, and even dependable performers are not guaranteed a contract unless they fit a clear tactical need.