In a surprising turn of events at the WPL 2026 mega auction on Thursday (November 27), Australia’s World Cup-winning captain Alyssa Healy went unsold, despite entering the pool at a modest base price of ₹50 lakh.

As the first marquee player called, Healy drew no bids from any of the five franchises, and her name did not reappear in the accelerated round – an outcome that shocked fans across the cricket world.

Healy, one of the most decorated wicketkeeper-batters in the modern game, has scored 428 runs in 17 WPL matches at a strike rate of 130.48. Her recent performances in the Women’s Big Bash League (BBL) also suggest that she still has the firepower to contribute at the highest level.

Here’s why Alyssa Healy went unsold in the 2026 WPL mega auction

According to WPL regulations, franchises can field only four overseas players in the playing XI, a rule that significantly shapes auction dynamics. Teams across the board prioritized multi-skilled all-rounders over specialist keeper-batters – a category where Healy largely fits.

UP Warriorz assistant coach Abhishek Nayar explained that franchises leaned heavily toward players who could influence multiple phases of the game – batting, bowling, and fielding – to extract maximum value from limited overseas slots. With top-order overseas spots mostly locked due to pre-auction retentions, Healy’s role didn’t align with the balance teams were seeking.

Another major factor was Healy’s injury-hit 2025 season, during which she missed the entire WPL due to a foot injury. Although she returned with back-to-back ODI centuries against India and Bangladesh, concerns lingered about her reliability, especially at age 35.

Her release by the UP Warriorz, who had signed her for ₹70 lakh in 2023, further indicated a shift toward building younger, fitter, and more adaptable squads. Some franchises were also reportedly wary of her inconsistent WBBL rhythm over the past year, prompting hesitation in committing big money to a specialist top-order batter without bowling utility.

Team management across franchises openly acknowledged that Healy’s omission was strategic rather than performance-. Anya Shrubsole, part of RCB’s coaching group, noted that their lineup had “no available space in the top five,” given their strong bench already featuring new recruit Georgia Voll.

The UP Warriorz, who were expected to chase a familiar face, instead focused on new leadership options, signing Meg Lanning for ₹1.9 crore and investing in rising talent like Phoebe Litchfield. With overseas slots quickly filling up, Healy did not reappear in the accelerated round – a clear indication of her mismatch with franchise strategies this year.

Also, uncertainty over Healy’s fitness meant no team was willing to bid for her, especially with the new WPL rule stating that no injury replacements will be permitted if a player withdraws before the start of the 2026 season.

Evolving T20 trends highlight all-round value in WPL over player’s reputation

The top buys of the auction – Deepti Sharma (₹3.2 crore), Amelia Kerr (₹3 crore) and Shikha Pandey (₹2.4 crore) – highlighted the evolving nature of T20 cricket, where all-rounders and dual-skill players dominate auctions, especially in leagues with limited overseas quotas.

While Healy boasts a stellar T20I record of 3,054 runs at a strike rate of 129.79, reputation alone was not enough in a purse-constrained environment. She joins other experienced players like Heather Knight, Alana King and Tazmin Brits who also went unsold, underscoring a broader franchise mindset focused on long-term rebuilding and roster versatility.

This article was first published at WomenCricket.coma Read company.