Jess Jonassen Withdraws from WPL Auction Due to Injury

Injury Forces Jonassen to Withdraw

Australian all-rounder Jess Jonassen has pulled out of the Women's Premier League (WPL) auction due to an ongoing injury, as reported by ESPNcricinfo. The WPL informed franchises about her withdrawal during the pre-auction briefing held on Wednesday.

WPL Auction Overview

The WPL mega auction is scheduled for Thursday in the national capital, featuring a total of 277 players, which includes 194 Indian and 83 international players.

Franchises were also notified that batter Pratika Rawal, wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia, and seamer VJ Joshitha are injured and will not be able to participate, despite being listed in the auction pool. If any team selects them, they cannot replace these players and must continue with their current squad.

Additionally, India fast bowler Pooja Vastrakar is not fully fit but will still be included in the auction. Kashvee Gautam has been officially declared.

Jonassen's Contribution to WPL

Jonassen has significantly impacted the WPL, having earned five Player-of-the-Match awards. Only Harmanpreet Kaur has achieved more, with seven awards to her name.

Marquee Players and Squad Formation

The auction will kick off with marquee players, showcasing prominent names such as Deepti Sharma, the 2025 Women's World Cup 'Player of the Tournament', Indian bowler Renuka Singh, and New Zealand stars Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr. Notable players like England's Sophie Ecclestone, Australian legends Alyssa Healy and Meg Lanning, along with Laura Wolvaardt, the leading run-scorer in the 2025 Women's World Cup, will also be featured.

The youngest participants in the auction are 16-year-olds Deeya Yadav and Bharati Singh, while the oldest is former South African pacer Shabnim Ismail at 37.

Each franchise can assemble a squad of up to 18 players, with a total of 73 slots to be filled, including 23 for overseas players, across five franchises.