Ellyse Perry Withdraws From WPL 2026 As RCB Name Replacement Amid Multiple Pullouts

Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland withdraws their name from WPL 2026 as RCB-W takes major hit ahead of their campaign.

In a significant setback for the TATA Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026, Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry has withdrawn from the tournament due to personal reasons, dealing a massive blow to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

Perry, who has been a cornerstone for RCB since the league’s inception, was instrumental in their maiden title win in 2024, earning the Player of the Tournament award with 347 runs and seven wickets. Her explosive batting, including a memorable 66 off 50 balls in the final against Delhi Capitals, and versatile seam bowling made her one of the most valuable overseas players. 

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RCB has named uncapped Indian all-rounder Sayali Satghare as Perry’s replacement at her reserve price of INR 30 lakh. Satghare, a promising domestic talent from Mumbai, brings right-arm medium pace and lower-order batting firepower, though filling Perry’s shoes will be a tall order. This leaves RCB with only five overseas players: Georgia Voll, Grace Harris, Nadine de Klerk, Lauren Bell, and Linsey Smith. 

Perry’s compatriot Annabel Sutherland has also pulled out for personal reasons, withdrawing from Delhi Capitals (DC). The young all-rounder, who impressed in previous seasons with her pace and batting, will be replaced by leg-spinner Alana King at INR 60 lakh. King, formerly with UP Warriorz, has 27 wickets in 27 T20Is and adds spin depth to DC’s squad. 

Other Replacements and Pullouts From WPL 2026

Additionally, USA’s left-arm pacer Tara Norris is unavailable for UP Warriorz due to her selection for the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in Nepal (January 18 to February 1). The event overlaps with WPL’s start on January 9.

Warriorz have signed uncapped Australian all-rounder Charli Knott at INR 10 lakh as her stand-in. These changes come post the WPL 2026 mega-auction in November, where teams spent INR 40.8 crore on 67 players, with stars like Deepti Sharma fetching high bids.