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Pratika Rawal, Yastika Bhatia and VJ Joshitha are injured for WPL but can be picked up at the auction as Jess Jonassen withdraws due to an injury.
Injured Indian stars Pratika Rawal and Yastika Bhatia (PTI)
Women’s Premier League teams have been reportedly told that top-order batter Pratika Rawal, wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia, and pacer VJ Joshitha are currently sidelined with injuries, although their names remain in the auction pool.
At the pre-auction briefing on Wednesday, the league told WPL franchises that these players cannot be counted toward the compulsory 15-member squad quota. If any franchise chooses to sign them, they will not be allowed to seek replacements later.
WPL Auction 2026 Live
Additionally, the WPL clarified that India pacer Pooja Vastrakar is still working her way back to full fitness but will remain available in the auction. In contrast, Kashvee Gautam has been declared match-ready.
Jess Jonassen Pulls Out
Australian Jess Jonassen has reportedly withdrawn from the upcoming WPL auction after sustaining an injury. Jonassen, 33, has been one of the standout performers in the tournament’s short history, having claimed five Player-of-the-Match awards — second only to Harmanpreet Kaur’s tally of seven. It is understood that the left-arm spinner has been dealing with a persistent shoulder issue and has opted out to focus on recovery.
Meanwhile, the marquee set for the WPL 2026 auction will feature some of the sport’s biggest names, including Alyssa Healy, Meg Lanning, Amelia Kerr, and Laura Wolvaardt. Indian stars Deepti Sharma and Renuka Singh round out the marquee list, ensuring a high-profile start when bidding begins.
A total of 276 players, including 194 Indian and 82 overseas players, will be up for selection at the mega auction. The five teams aim to fill up to 73 slots, comprising 50 Indian and 23 overseas players. The squad size must be between a minimum of 15 players and a maximum of 18 players.
Four associate players, Theertha Satish and Esha Oza from the UAE, Tara Norris from the USA, and Thipatcha Putthawong from Thailand, are also included in the auction list.
(With inputs from Agencies)
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin…Read More
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin… Read More
November 27, 2025, 10:49 IST
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