Coming off the incredible high of the Indian women’s team's historic 2025 ODI World Cup victory this November, the excitement for the fourth season of the Women's Premier League is absolutely electric. With the season tentatively scheduled for early next year, all eyes are on the player auction happening this Thursday in Delhi. But behind the scenes, a serious problem is brewing that’s giving all five franchises a major headache: injuries.
Key Highlights
- ✓ India's historic 2025 ODI World Cup win has set the stage for an exciting WPL Season 4.
- ✓ A growing list of injuries to key Indian and overseas players is a major headache for the five WPL franchises ahead of the auction.
- ✓ Australian all-rounder Jess Jonassen has pulled out of the auction at the last minute due to a shoulder injury, disrupting team strategies.
- ✓ Prominent players like Pratika Rawal, Yastika Bhatia, and Pooja Vastrakar are all nursing significant injuries, making their auction status uncertain.
- ✓ Franchises are calling on the BCCI to implement a more structured injury management program to ensure player longevity.
The Growing Concern in the Franchise Camps
You can feel the tension building. While women's cricket has taken massive leaps forward, thanks in no slight part to the WPL giving players incredible exposure, the physical toll is starting to show. Franchises are getting nervous as they finalize their auction strategies, and the fitness of both Indian and overseas stars is a huge talking point. One franchise official put it bluntly, saying that many Indian players have struggled with recurring injuries, which raises serious questions about their long-term careers.
It's not just about missing a few games anymore. There’s a growing feeling that the BCCI needs to step in with a more structured approach to rehabilitation and fitness. It’s about protecting these incredible athletes and ensuring they can have long, successful careers. The stakes are just too high now for fitness to be an afterthought.
The Heartbreak of India's World Cup Stars
Let's talk about opener Pratika Rawal. She was on fire during the World Cup, forming a brilliant opening partnership with vice-captain Smriti Mandhana. Then, disaster struck in the last league game against Bangladesh. She fell awkwardly while fielding and suffered a hairline fracture in her ankle, forcing her to miss the crucial semi-final and final. After going unsold in WPL-2025, this injury means she'll likely miss this entire season, which is just heartbreaking for a player who has shown such amazing consistency.
Then there’s Yastika Bhatia, the talented wicketkeeper-batter who had to miss the World Cup entirely after hurting her left knee during the pre-tournament camp. The 24-year-old had to undergo surgery and is now in rehab. These are two of India's top talents, and their absence is a massive blow not just for them, but for the league and the teams that might have been eyeing them.
A League-Wide Injury Watchlist
The list, unfortunately, doesn't stop there. Take Kashvee Gautam, the promising pace bowling all-rounder. Gujarat Giants shelled out a record ₹2 crore for her in Season 2, but she missed the whole season with an injury. While she played in Season 3, it was clear she wasn't at her best. Now, she's back in rehab at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru with a similar injury, and her return timeline is completely up in the air.
Similarly, key all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar, who was instrumental in Mumbai Indians' inaugural title win in 2023, has a history of knee and hamstring problems. Market evidence demonstrates that After missing the 2025 season, the 26-year-old is also currently undergoing rehab at the CoE. Young leg-spinner Priya Mishra has been sidelined with a shin injury, and while she's been seen at practice sessions, her overall fitness remains a concern.
It's Not Just the Indian Players
The injury bug has hit the international stars hard, too. Asha Sobhana, the 34-year-old veteran leg-spinner for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, was the second-highest wicket-taker during their 2024 title run. However, she missed WPL-2025 with an injury and has been dealing with recurring shoulder issues. If she's fit, she could be a hot commodity at the auction, but that's a big 'if'.
Across the globe, England's experienced pacer Kate Cross has had intermittent back injuries, and her participation hinges on medical clearance from the ECB. Australian all-rounder Sophie Molineux has battled multiple shoulder and foot problems over the years. Even the formidable Australian captain, Alyssa Healy, isn't immune; she suffered a calf injury during the World Cup and has a history of finger trouble. From a news perspective, Her experience is invaluable, but franchises will be doing their homework on her fitness.
Drama in the Auction Room
All of this brings us to the auction itself, which is already shaping up to be a nail-biter. Wielding the hammer will be Mallika Sagar, a true trailblazer who made history as the first female auctioneer for the IPL and the Pro Kabaddi League. Her calm and confident presence will be needed as the franchises navigate this tricky landscape.
And here's the kicker: just hours before the big day, a major bombshell dropped. Australian left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen has been ruled out of the auction due to a nagging shoulder injury. She was a core part of the Delhi Capitals squad for the first three seasons, and her sudden unavailability, communicated just a day prior, has sent teams scrambling to adjust their strategies. Sources say a few teams were really keen on her, and now there’s a feeling that other left-arm spinners, especially from the Indian pool, could see their auction prices skyrocket.
To make things even more complicated, franchises were told that while players like Pratika Rawal and Yastika Bhatia remain in the auction pool, picking them comes with a massive risk. If a team buys them, they cannot get a replacement player, and the injured player won't count toward the mandatory 15-member squad. It's a high-stakes gamble that will test the nerve of every team owner and strategist in the room.
Conclusion
The bottom line is this: the WPL 2026 auction is going to be about so much more than just talent and stats. It's become a complex game of risk assessment. The thrill of building a championship team is tempered by the very real possibility that a star player could spend the season on the sidelines. How the franchises balance big names with big injury question marks will define not just their auction success, but potentially their entire season. Market evidence demonstrates that It's a stark reminder that for the league to thrive, the health and longevity of its incredible athletes must be the number one priority.
