Hours before WPL 2026 mega auction, Australia's star all-rounder pulls out due to this reason

Australia’s star all-rounder Jess Jonassen has pulled out of Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 mega auction due to a shoulder injury she has been managing for some time. Jonassen who has represented Delhi Capitals (DC) in three seasons, informed the WPL franchises about her injury at the pre-auction briefing on November 26.

In three seasons, Jonassen claimed 33 wickets at an average of 20.75, including a four-fer. She has been handy with the bat for Capitals, scoring 295 runs from 18 innings at an average of 24.58 and strike rate of 138.49. The 33-year-old has two WPL fifties to her name. She has been one of the main reasons why DC qualified for three consecutive WPL finals. The left-arm spinner has seven Player of the match awards across seasons.

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List of other injured players in the mega auction -

The most prominent player in recent times who will be available at the mega auction but unlikely to play in the next year's season is Pratika Rawal. The Indian opener got injured during the league stage game of Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 against Bangladesh. She was ruled out for the semifinal and the final. Shafali Verma was named her replacement.

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India's wicketkeeper-batter Yashtika Bhatia and 19-year-old pacer VJ Joshitha are injured as well. Joshitha represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the previous season. Also, pace-bowling all-rounder Pooja Vastarkar isn’t fully fit but yet to regain full fitness.

Are WPL franchises allowed to bid for injured players?

Like in the Indian Premier League (IPL), WPL franchise can rope in injured players in the mega auction as well. Earlier, Mumbai Indians (MI) men’s team roped in England pacer Jofra Archer who was injured and unlikely to play in the next season.

However, the WPL franchises have been informed that they cannot ask for a replacement for them midway through the season as these players are already injured. It will be interesting to see if any of the franchises go for the injured star players. It helps the franchises save money in the mini-auctions where players often earn big bucks.

Unlike the IPL where the maximum number of players in a squad is 25, it is limited to 18 in the WPL. This may be a major reason why WPL franchises may decide against roping in injured players.