Top 5 players who were shockingly not picked by franchises in WPL Auction 2024

The 2024 Women's Premier League auction shook the cricketing world with record-breaking deals and unexpected developments. As teams gear up for the upcoming season, fans can expect an electrifying display of talent and fierce competition.

Kashvee Gautam's historic INR 2 crore deal established her as the most expensive uncapped player in the league's history. This exciting acquisition by Gujarat Giants set the stage for a dynamic auction filled with both triumph and surprise.

Phoebe Litchfield, the Australian sensation, became the first player under the hammer, fetching an impressive INR 1 crore from Gujarat Giants. Sharing the spotlight with Gautam, Australian all-rounder Annabel Sutherland commanded a joint-highest price tag of INR 2 crore, secured by Delhi Capitals.

While some players received staggering bids, others faced unexpected setbacks in which some were expected to rule the action charts: Some of the top names who were excluded from the list are:

1)      Chamari Athapaththu

One of the most baffling developments of the WPL 2024 auction was the unsold status of Sri Lankan superstar Chamari Athapaththu despite a base price of INR 30 lakh. This comes as a major surprise given her exceptional performance in the past year, culminating in several accolades and record-breaking achievements.

Athapaththu spearheaded her team's historic first-ever ODI series win against New Zealand, single-handedly dominating the batting department. Her brilliance extended to the T20 format, leading Sri Lanka to a series victory against England with an astonishing strike rate of 165.21.

Her exploits resonated beyond international cricket, earning her the Player of the Tournament award in the prestigious WBBL 2023 season. As a last-minute overseas replacement for Sydney Thunder, she amassed 511 runs at an impressive strike rate of 129.69 and claimed nine wickets, solidifying her position as a force to be reckoned with.

2)      Deandra Dottin

The WPL 2024 auction witnessed yet another surprising development with the unsold status of West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin. This came as a significant shock, particularly considering her high base price of INR 50 lakh and her undeniable talent on the field.

Despite her exceptional abilities as a batter and bowler and her proven track record in international cricket, no franchise expressed interest in acquiring Dottin's services at the auction. This unexpected outcome has left many fans and observers baffled, wondering what factors contributed to this surprising turn of events.

3)      Tara Norris

Amidst the excitement of the WPL 2024 auction, one surprising omission stood out – Tara Norris. Despite her impressive performance in the inaugural season of the league, representing the Delhi Capitals as the only Associate nation player and claiming a five-wicket haul (5-29) in her very first match against Royal Challengers Bangalore, she remained unsold in this year's auction. 

While Tara's base price of INR 10 lakh was considered reasonable, franchises deemed it insufficient to acquire her services, leaving many observers perplexed. Her exclusion raises questions about the valuation of players, particularly those from Associate nations, and how teams perceive their potential contribution.

4)      Alana King

Despite a base price of INR 30 lakh and impressive past performances, Australian wrist-spinner Alana King remained unsold in the WPL 2024 auction. This unexpected outcome raises questions and adds another surprising element to the dynamic landscape of the league.

King boasts a proven track record in the Indian T20 format, having played a pivotal role in the Supernovas' victory in the 2022 edition of the defunct Women's T20 Challenge. Her ability to deceive and dismiss highly-rated batters like Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, and Radha Yadav with her deceptive googlies was instrumental in her team's win.

King's impressive performance in the final, where she finished with figures of 3-32, showcased her talent and potential. Her unique skillset and experience on Indian pitches made her a seemingly valuable asset for any WPL franchise.

 5)      Amy Jones

The experienced English wicket-keeper batter, Amy Jones, was absent from the WPL auction, where she had initially set her base price at 40 lakh INR. With a noteworthy international career representing England for more than a decade, Jones has amassed 1350 T20I runs, maintaining an average of 21.77 and an impressive strike rate of 122.28. Additionally, her proficiency behind the stumps has been consistently sharp throughout her career.