The Australian all-rounders Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland have both pulled out of the upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026. Perry, who was to play for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, has been replaced by Sayali Satghare, who joins the 2024 winners at a base price of INR 30 lakh.
On the other side, Delhi Capitals have replaced Sutherland with another Australian leg spinner in Alana King. She went unsold in the WPL 2026 Auction, but the three-time finalists have picked her up for INR 60 lakh — her base price. The league committee issued a press release on Tuesday, December 30, to announce the development after both players cited personal reasons for withdrawing from the tournament.
“Delhi Capitals today announced the signing of Australian leg-spinner Alana King as a replacement for all-rounder Annabel Sutherland, who has been ruled out of the Women’s Premier League 2026 due to personal reasons. Delhi Capitals respect and support Sutherland in her decision and wish her the very best,” the franchise said in a release.
Meanwhile, left-arm pacer Tara Norris will be unable to participate in the WPL owing to national commitments. At the time of the auctions, the United States of America had not qualified for the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier, but now that they have, Norris will play for the national team. Both the WPL and the Qualifiers have clashing dates, resulting in a pick-one, leave-one predicament.
Norris is replaced by uncapped Australian all-rounder Charli Knott, who will earn INR 10 lakh for her stint with UP Warriorz in the 2018 season.
The defending champions, Mumbai Indians, take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the opening match of the 2019 season on February 9 at Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy. The teams will shift to Vadodara for the second half of the league stage matches and playoff fixtures at the BCA Stadium after having played in Navi Mumbai in the first half.
In 2025, Harmanpreet Kaur-led MI Women lifted their second trophy after defeating the Delhi Capitals in the summit clash.
