The countdown to the WPL Auction 2026 is on—but it’s not all excitement and anticipation. Behind the scenes, franchise owners and team directors are wrestling with a growing headache: player injuries. The most recent and concerning case? Pratika Rawal, the promising Indian opener who, just weeks ago, was lighting up the Women’s T20 World Cup alongside vice-captain Smriti Mandhana—only to suffer a hairline fracture in her ankle during India’s final league match against Bangladesh .
That awkward fall while fielding at the DY Patil Stadium didn’t just end her World Cup campaign—it sent shockwaves through WPL planning rooms. With the mega auction set for late November 2025 and Season 4 tipping off in early 2026, teams now face a tough gamble: bid big on a proven performer whose fitness is uncertain, or pivot to safer—but potentially less explosive—alternatives? Let’s break down what this means for India’s premier women’s cricket league.
Table of Contents
- Pratika Rawal: The Rise and the Fall
- WPL Auction 2026: Fitness Red Flags
- How Franchises Are Adapting
- Shafali Verma’s Emergency Role
- Broader Injury Trends in Women’s Cricket
- What This Means for Season 4
- Conclusion
- Sources
Pratika Rawal: The Rise and the Fall
Before her injury, Pratika Rawal was enjoying a breakout tournament. Paired with Smriti Mandhana at the top of the order, she brought stability and spark in equal measure—but more importantly, she offered India a rare commodity: a reliable opening combo outside of the usual suspects like Shafali Verma or Jemimah Rodrigues .
Her technical soundness and ability to rotate strike made her an ideal foil to Mandhana’s aggressive strokeplay. Scouts from multiple WPL franchises had reportedly flagged her as a high-priority target for the WPL Auction 2026, with some projecting her to fetch a base price of ₹30–40 lakh due to her domestic consistency and international exposure .
But that hairline fracture—though not career-threatening—requires 6–8 weeks of recovery and cautious rehabilitation. For a player hoping to showcase fitness ahead of the auction? It’s a major setback.
WPL Auction 2026: Fitness Red Flags
This isn’t just about Rawal. The incident has spotlighted a broader concern: how do franchises assess player fitness in a compressed auction window, especially post-tournament?
Unlike men’s leagues with extensive medical databases and pre-auction fitness camps, the WPL’s infrastructure is still evolving. Teams rely heavily on recent match participation and self-declared medical updates—creating blind spots that could prove costly.
Consider this:
- Players returning from World Cup fatigue may hide niggles to secure contracts.
- Franchises face limited time to conduct independent medical evaluations.
- A single injury during the 18-day season can derail an entire campaign.
As one anonymous team official told TOI: “We’re flying blind on some of these names.”
How Franchises Are Adapting
Smart teams are already adjusting. Sources suggest franchises like Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore are building “injury buffers” into their squads—prioritizing depth over star power in certain roles .
Instead of splurging on one high-risk opener, they may opt for two mid-priced options with clean medicals. Others are quietly scouting uncapped domestic players known for durability—like Mumbai’s Neha Tanwar or Bengal’s Richa Ghosh (who’s also managing her own workload concerns).
Some are even consulting with sports science partners at institutions like the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to access independent fitness data—though access remains limited .
Shafali Verma’s Emergency Role
In Rawal’s absence, India turned to Shafali Verma for the World Cup semifinal and final—reuniting her with Mandhana in a high-octane but volatile opening combo . While Shafali brings fire and boundary-hitting power, her aggressive style increases dismissal risk early on.
For WPL teams, this raises another question: is Shafali best used as a pure aggressor at No. 3 or 4—where she can dominate without the burden of seeing off the new ball? Delhi Capitals, her current franchise, may rethink her role depending on who they pick as Mandhana’s new opening partner (Mandhana plays for RCB).
Broader Injury Trends in Women’s Cricket
Rawal’s case isn’t isolated. A 2024 ICC injury surveillance report noted a 23% rise in lower-limb stress injuries
With bilateral series, WPL, The Hundred, and international tournaments crammed into the calendar, players are facing unprecedented physical demands—without proportional increases in support staff or recovery protocols.
What This Means for Season 4
Season 4 could be the most unpredictable yet. Franchises that invest wisely in medical due diligence—not just batting averages—may gain a decisive edge. Expect more “fitness clauses” in contracts and a rise in last-minute auction-day swaps.
For fans, this adds a new layer of drama: Will Rawal recover in time? Will Shafali shift down the order? And which uncapped gem will emerge as the injury-proof surprise?
For fantasy players, stay tuned to our [INTERNAL_LINK:wpl-2026-fantasy-picks-injury-safe-players] guide for smart, low-risk picks ahead of the season.
Conclusion
The WPL Auction 2026 isn’t just about talent—it’s about trust, timing, and toughness. Pratika Rawal’s injury is a stark reminder that in modern cricket, fitness is as valuable as form. As franchises finalize their war rooms and bid lists, the teams that marry talent with resilience will be the ones lifting the trophy in March 2026.