Star Australia wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy went unsold during the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 auction on Thursday and UP Warriorz (UPW) head coach Abhishek Nayar presented a theory for her finding no takers.
Nayar believes Healy's specialisation as a wicketkeeper-batter limited her options.
"Alyssa Healy going unsold was surprising for different reasons. 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. It's a tough situation for someone of her stature," Abhishek Nayar said as per ESPNcricinfo.
Anya Shrubsole, assistant coach of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), believed Healy did not fit RCB's combination.
"We have a very strong top order, and Georgia Voll gives us some offspin as well," she said. "With Richa Ghosh [as a wicketkeeper-batter] in the top five, going for Healy didn't make sense for us," Shrubsole said.
Hers was the first name to go under the hammer during the WPL 2026 auction. Healy entered the auction at a base price of Rs 50 lakh after being released by UPW, who had signed her for Rs 70 lakh for the first two seasons. At the 2023 WPL auction, she was bought for Rs 70 lakh by UP Warriorz.
Healy has struggled with fitness issues since last year's T20 World Cup. Playing for Sydney Sixers in the ongoing Women's Big Bash League (WBBL), she also struggled for rhythm.
At last month's ODI World Cup, Healy scored consecutive hundreds against India and Bangladesh.
Star Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma, who won the Player of the Tournament in the Women's World Cup 2025, got the highest bid in the WPL 2026 auction.