Royal Challengers Bengaluru will head into the 2026 Women’s Premier League without Ellyse Perry, while Delhi Capitals must do the same with Annabel Sutherland. Both Australians have withdrawn for personal reasons, leaving their franchises to reshuffle only weeks before the tournament.
Perry, retained for INR 2 crore, has been RCB’s heartbeat since the league began. She sits second on the all-time WPL run chart and was central to the club’s 2024 title. Her place goes to Maharashtra quick-bowling all-rounder Sayali Satghare, signed at her base price of INR 30 lakh. Satghare played four matches across two seasons for Gujarat Giants and has three ODI caps; RCB say her “ability to hit the deck” fills an obvious gap. Head coach Ben Sawyer admitted, “We’ll miss Ellyse’s calm, no question, but Sayali gives us a fresh dimension with the new ball.”
Delhi, meanwhile, have turned to leg-spinner Alana King after Sutherland’s late exit. Sutherland cost DC INR 2.2 crore at the last retention window but has opted out after two campaigns in blue. King, who featured just once for UP Warriorz in 2025, is a fixture in Australia’s national side and offers a different skill-set. Capitals bowling coach Hemlata Kala noted, “Alana’s wrist-spin gives us control through the middle. She’s waited patiently for a proper run in the WPL.”
UP Warriorz also face disruption. Left-arm seamer Tara Norris will instead represent the USA in the Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers. The Warriorz have brought in uncapped Australian batting all-rounder Charli Knott, another INR 10 lakh signing. Skipper Alyssa Healy sounded upbeat: “Charli strikes the ball cleanly and bowls handy off-spin—she’s more versatile than people realise.”
Analysis
The timing is awkward rather than disastrous. Perry’s absence removes a proven finisher and handy seamer; RCB will lean harder on Smriti Mandhana and Sophie Devine. Delhi lose a genuine fast-bowling all-rounder who lengthened their batting, but King’s leg-breaks could be priceless on slower March tracks. For the Warriorz, Norris’ new-ball swing is hard to replicate; Knott’s inclusion signals a tweak towards batting depth.
With overseas windows forever colliding, late changes are part of the WPL fabric. How quickly these replacements settle may shape the opening fortnight.
