5 Star Cricketers Who Went Unsold in WPL 2026 Auction Despite Stellar Records

New Delhi: The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 auction concluded with 67 players being bought by five franchises, including 23 international stars. A total of 277 players—194 Indians and 83 foreigners—were part of the bidding. While many top players secured contracts, several international stars surprisingly went unsold. Here’s a look at five such players whose performances speak volumes in international cricket:

1. Tazmin Brits (South Africa)

Opening batter for South Africa, Tazmin Brits has scored 1,719 runs in Women’s T20 Internationals at an average above 32, including 14 fifties in 65 innings. Despite her impressive record, no franchise picked her in the WPL 2026 auction.

2. Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka)

Sri Lanka’s captain and one of the finest all-rounders in women’s cricket, Chamari Athapaththu has scored 3,458 runs in 146 T20Is, including 3 centuries, and has also taken 63 wickets. Yet, she remained unsold during the auction.

3. Heather Knight (England)

Former England captain Heather Knight is the first woman in international cricket to score centuries across all three formats. A seasoned batter and bowler, she has amassed over 7,000 international runs, but still went unsold in the WPL 2026 auction.

4. Alana King (Australia)

Australia’s leg-spinner Alana King claimed 27 wickets in 27 T20Is and 72 wickets in 47 ODIs, along with 128 wickets in the Women’s Big Bash League. Despite these credentials, no WPL franchise showed interest in her during the auction.

5. Ellyse Perry (Australia)

Regarded as one of women’s cricket’s greatest all-rounders, Ellyse Perry has scored over 3,000 runs in T20 Internationals and hit 5 centuries in the Women’s Big Bash League. Surprisingly, even she went unsold in the WPL 2026 auction.

Summary: The WPL 2026 auction reflected the growing competition among franchises and players. However, the absence of these international stars from the buying list has raised eyebrows, highlighting that even top-tier talent is not guaranteed a spot in franchise cricket.