Coaches from RCB, UP Warriorz and the Delhi Capitals have explained why Alyssa Healy didn’t fit into their plans after she went unsold in the $6.9 million Women’s Premier League auction. Mitchell Starc had said before the WPL auction on Thursday night that he hoped wife Healy would be picked up by the Delhi Capitals so they could be part of the same franchise. But Healy went unsold in a staggering development for the Australian women’s captain.
The six-time World Cup winner didn’t attract a single bidder from any of the five teams at the WPL’s ‘mega-auction’ in New Delhi. Fellow Aussies Meg Lanning and Phoebe Litchfield were snapped up by the UP Warriorz, who let their captain Healy go.
Former Australia captain Lanning, who is in sensational form in the WBBL, was taken for AU$326,000, while Litchfield went for $206,000. The Aussie pair could form a dynamic opening partnership for the Warriorz in the 2026 tournament.
Mitchell Starc had been hoping to team up on the same franchise with wife Alyssa Healy. Image: Getty
Coaches explain why Alyssa Healy went unsold
But the biggest sensation of the auction was Healy being snubbed altogether. Starc had responded to a social media post from his Delhi Capitals team that his wish was for them to sign Healy. But not only was that wish denied, Healy was snubbed completely.
The 35-year-old had recently scored back-to-back centuries at the World Cup and is still one of Australia’s best white-ball players. She was expected to garner in the $200,000-$300,000 range, but it wasn’t to be.
Mitchell Starc plays for Delhi Capitals, while Alyssa Healy was formerly part of UP Warriorz. Image: Getty
Abhishek Nayar, the head coach of UP Warriorz, said it was simply down to the balance of their squad. “When you’re allowed only four overseas players (in the XI), your options are limited, and many teams prefer all-rounders in their set-up,” Nayar said. “It’s a tough situation for someone of her stature.”
Anya Shrubsole, an assistant coach of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), said: “We have a very strong top order, and Georgia Voll gives us some off-spin as well. With Richa Ghosh [as a wicketkeeper-batter] in the top five, going for Healy didn’t make sense for us.”
While Delhi Capitals head coach Jonathan Batty said it was due to squad “flexibility”. Healy has endured a number of injuries in recent years that might have counted against her, and she’s only managed 65 runs in four innings so far in the WBBL.
13 Australians set to play in Women’s Premier League
Leg-spinning sensation Alana King was also overlooked, but 13 Aussies were snapped up in total. Reigning champions the Mumbai Indians took Nicola Carey and Milly Illingworth, while Delhi drafted Annabel Sutherland and Lucy Hamilton. The Gujarat Giants have the biggest Aussie contingent with Ash Gardner, Beth Mooney, Georgia Wareham and Kim Garth, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru got Ellyse Perry, Grace Harris and Georgia Voll.
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Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma received the highest price, going back to her original team UP Warriorz for $549,000. Sharma recently received player-of-the-tournament honours in the World Cup after helping to dethrone Healy’s Australians to win the event. New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr was the most expensive overseas player, going to Mumbai for $513,000.
In total, the five franchises spent $6.9 million on 67 players. The tournament runs from January 9 to February 5 in Navi Mumbai and Vadodara. The final will take place two days before India co-hosts the men’s T20 World Cup with Sri Lanka.
Aussies in the Women’s Premier League:
Delhi Capitals – Annabel Sutherland, Lucy Hamilton
Gujarat Giants – Ash Gardner, Beth Mooney, Georgia Wareham, Kim Garth
Mumbai Indians – Nicola Carey, Milly Illingworth
Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Ellyse Perry, Grace Harris, Georgia Voll
UP Warriorz – Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield
Unsold players: Alyssa Healy, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Alana King, Darcie Brown, Laura Harris, Heather Graham.
with AAP