Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) suffered a major setback after first-class all-rounder Ellyse Perry opted out of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 due to personal reasons. The 2024 champions named Indian all-rounder Sayali Satghare as their replacement.
Perry played a key role in RCB’s winning campaign in 2024 and became first bowler to take six wickets in WPL history. In 25 WPL matches, the veteran Australian all-rounder amassed 972 runs, including eight half-centuries, and picked up 14 wickets at an economy rate of 8.25.
Satghare was earlier a part of Gujarat Giants before being released by the franchise. It didn’t sell for Rs 30 crore at an auction last month, but Perry’s exit opened the door for it. With this change, RCB now have South Africa’s Nadine de Klerk as their only other genuine foreign all-rounder option.
RCB are scheduled to begin their campaign on December 9 against two-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.
SUTHERLAND, NORRIS ALSO PULL OUT
Another Australian all-rounder Annabel Sutherland and pacer Tara Norris from the United States also withdrew from the tournament. Sutherland, who will not represent Delhi Capitals due to personal reasons, has been replaced by Alana King, who joined for her reserve price of Rs 30 lakh.
King played just one game for the UP Warriors last season before his release. Earlier this year in the Women’s World Cup, she became the first bowler to take seven wickets in the tournamentending with remarkable figures of 7-2-18-7 at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.
Left-armer Tara Norris has earned a spot in the US national team for the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup qualifiers to be held in Nepal from January 18 to February 1, 2026. As a result, she will miss the WPL. After Norris became a screenwriter in 2023 the first bowler to take a hat-trick in the tournament.
Australian all-rounder Charli Knott was signed as her replacement for a minimum price of INR 10 million. Although not a valuable all-rounder in the WBBL internationally, Knott has scored 775 runs and taken 28 wickets in 68 matches for the Brisbane Heat. She also represented London Spirit and Southern Brave in the Women’s Hundred.
The Warriorz begin their campaign on January 10 against the Giants, while Delhi Capitals take on Mumbai Indians in the second leg of today’s doubleheader in Navi Mumbai.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
December 30, 2025
