Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland withdraw from WPL 2026 due to personal reasons

Australian stars Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland have pulled out of the upcoming Women's Premier League (WPL 2026) season citing personal reasons. Perry was set to feature for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), while Sutherland was signed by Delhi Capitals (DC).

They have been replaced by Sayali Satghare and Alana King. Satghare will join RCB at her reserve price of INR 30 lakh. King, who represented UP Warriorz last season, has been signed by DC for INR 60 lakh. The Australian leg-spinner has taken 27 wickets in 27 T20Is.

Perry's absence is a significant blow to RCB. She was the Orange Cap winner in their 2024 title-winning season, scoring 347 runs at 69.40 and taking seven wickets. In the 2025 season, she scored 372 runs from eight games and was retained for INR 2 crore.

Sutherland had a fine season with DC last year, taking nine wickets at an economy of 7.57 in their run to the final. She was retained for INR 2.2 crore.

In another squad change, UP Warriorz have signed uncapped Australian all-rounder Charli Knott. She replaces USA's Tara Norris, who was selected for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier. Knott was signed at a reserve price of INR 10 lakh.

WPL 2026 begins on January 9, with Mumbai Indians taking on RCB in Navi Mumbai.