When the first major player called, Healy drew no bids from any of the five franchises, and her name did not appear again in the accelerated round – a result that shocked fans in the cricket world.
One of the most decorated wicketkeeper-batsmen in the modern game, Healy has scored 428 runs in 17 WPL matches with 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 at the 2026 WPL Mega Auction
Under WPL regulations, franchises can only field four foreign players in the playing XI, a rule that significantly shapes the auction dynamics. Teams across the board preferred versatile all-rounders over specialist goalkeepers – a category Healy largely fits into.
UP Warriorz assistant coach Abhishek Nayar explained that franchises relied heavily on players who could influence multiple phases of the game – batting, bowling and fielding – to extract maximum value from limited overseas slots. With top positions abroad largely blocked due to pre-auction retentions, Healy’s role did not match the balance the teams were looking for.
Another major factor was Healy’s injury-affected 2025 season, in which she missed the entire WPL due to a foot injury. Although she returned with consecutive ODI centuries against India and Bangladesh, concerns remained about her reliability, especially at the age of 35.
Her release by the UP Warriorz, who had signed her for ₹70 lakh in 2023, further signaled a shift towards building younger, fitter and more adaptable squads. Some franchises were also reportedly wary of her inconsistent WBBL pace over the past year, prompting hesitation to commit big money to a top-order specialist batsman without a bowling aid.
The team management of all franchises openly acknowledged that Healy’s negligence was strategic rather than performance-related. Anya Shrubsole, part of RCB’s coaching group, noted that their line-up was “no available space in the top five,” given their strong bench that already includes 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 emerging talent such as Phoebe Litchfield. With the overseas slots filling up quickly, Healy did not appear again in the fast-track round – a clear indication of her mismatch with franchise strategies this year.
The uncertainty over Healy’s fitness also meant that no team was willing to bid for her, especially as the new WPL rule states that no injury substitutions are allowed if a player withdraws before the start of the 2026 season.
READ also: WPL 2026 Mega Auction – Complete list of unsold players
Evolving T20 trends emphasize WPL’s all-round value over player reputation
The auction’s top buys – 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 the auctions, especially in leagues with limited foreign 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 cash-strapped environment. She joins other experienced players such as Heather Knight, Alana King and Tazmin Brits who also went unsold, underscoring a wider franchise mentality focused on long-term rebuilding and squad versatility.
READ also: WPL 2026 Auction – Complete Squads of All 5 Teams
This article was first published on WomenCricket.coma Cricket Times company.
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