Bad news for Smriti Mandhana’s RCB just days before WPL 2026 season, star player ruled out due to…, DC will also…
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 is set to get underway on January 9 with defending champions Mumbai Indians set to take on Smriti Mandhana’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. However, there was bad news for former WPL champions RCB as they will miss the services of star Australia all-rounder Elysse Perry for the entire season.
Just days before the WPL 2026 opener, the BCCI announced that Perry has been ruled out of the tournament due to ‘personal reasons’. Perry had been bought for Rs 1.7 crore by RCB and was retained for Rs 2 crore ahead of the WPL 2026 mega auction by Smriti Mandhana’s side.
“Australian all-rounders Ellyse Perry (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) and Annabel Sutherland (Delhi Capitals) have withdrawn from the upcoming edition of the league due to personal reasons. RCB have named Sayali Satghare as a replacement for Perry. Satghare will join RCB at her reserve price of Rs 30 lakh,” a WPL statement read on Tuesday.
News
Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland withdraw from #TATAWPL 2026. Tara Norris set to miss due to international duties.
Details https://t.co/BCythS5gV3
— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) December 30, 2025
Jemimah Rodrigues-led Delhi Capitals, on the other hand, will miss the services of leg-spinner Annabel Sutherland from Australia. DC have decided to replace Sutherland with leg-spinner Alana King.
King recently produced one of the finest spells in ICC Women’s ODI Cricket World Cup history, with figures of 7 for 18 for Australia against South Africa. The 30-year-old has previously been part of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), having represented UP Warriorz, and has featured in 27 T20Is, taking 27 wickets.
She was most recently in action for Perth Scorchers Women in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), where she claimed 12 wickets in 13 matches as the team finished runners-up. “Delhi Capitals respect and support Sutherland in her decision and wish her the very best,” a statement read.
Left-arm medium pacer Tara Norris has been selected for the USA national team for the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier, scheduled to be held in Nepal from January 18, 2026 to February 1, 2026. As a result, she will be unavailable for the Women’s Premier League 2026, which begins on January 9.
UP Warriorz have named uncapped Australian all-rounder Charli Knott as her replacement. Knott has been signed at a reserve price of Rs 10 lakh.
Here’s a list of unavailable players and their replacements in WPL 2026…
| Name | Team | Replacement |
| Elysse Perry | RCB | Sayali Satghare |
| Annabel Sutherland | DC | Alana King |
| Tara Norris | UPW | Charli Knott |