Mumbai
Australian all-rounders Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland have withdrawn from the upcoming season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), citing personal reasons, prompting their franchises to announce replacements ahead of the tournament beginning next month.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) confirmed that Perry will not be available for the fourth edition of the WPL. In her place, the franchise has signed Indian all-rounder Sayali Satghare, who will join the squad at her reserve price of Rs 30 lakh. Satghare, a promising domestic performer, will get an opportunity to feature alongside experienced international players in one of the league’s most high-profile teams.
Delhi Capitals (DC) have also been forced into a change following Annabel Sutherland’s withdrawal. The franchise has named Australian leg-spinner Alana King as her replacement. King, who previously represented UP Warriorz in the WPL, will join DC at a reserve price of Rs 60 lakh. The experienced spinner has featured in 27 T20 Internationals for Australia and has claimed 27 wickets, bringing proven international pedigree to the Capitals’ bowling attack.
The WPL, in a media release, confirmed both changes and noted that the teams acted swiftly to finalise their squads ahead of the season opener.
In another squad update, UP Warriorz have made a replacement of their own. Left-arm seamer Tara Norris has been ruled out and replaced by Australian all-rounder Charlie Knott, who has been signed at a reserve price of Rs 10 lakh. Norris, who had earlier represented Delhi Capitals in the inaugural WPL season in 2023, has been named in the United States squad for the Women’s T20 World Cup qualifiers scheduled to be held in Nepal next year.
The fourth edition of the Women’s Premier League will be played in two legs across Navi Mumbai and Vadodara, with the tournament scheduled to run from January 9 to February 5. With teams finalising their line-ups, the stage is set for another competitive season of women’s franchise cricket in India.
