Vaishnavi Sharma’s absence from the WPL 2026 squads has raised questions, especially given her strong performances across age-group, domestic, and international cricket over the last 18 months. The left-arm spinner went unsold at the WPL 2026 auction despite entering at a base price of INR 10 lakh and being one of the most consistent wicket-takers in Indian women’s T20 cricket this season.
Who Is Vaishnavi Sharma?
Vaishnavi Sharma is a left-arm spinner from Gwalior who has steadily climbed the ranks of Indian women’s cricket through performance rather than hype.
Her rise began at the ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup earlier this year, where she played a key role in India’s title-winning campaign and finished among the tournament’s leading wicket-takers. She produced one of the tournament’s standout spells — 5 for 5 against Malaysia, including a hat-trick. That performance helped establish her as a wicket-taking spinner at international age-group level, not just in domestic cricket.
That form carried into senior domestic cricket. Representing Madhya Pradesh, Vaishnavi topped the bowling charts in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy and followed it up by leading the wickets tally in the Senior Women’s Inter-Zonal T20 Tournament as well.
She has since made her India senior debut and has been part of the ongoing T20I series against Sri Lanka, where she has been trusted with regular overs and has maintained one of the best economy rates in the series. Across formats and levels, her numbers point to control, consistency, and repeatability, key traits for a T20 spinner.
Which WPL Team Is Vaishnavi Sharma In?
Vaishnavi Sharma is not part of any WPL team for the 2026 season.
She entered the WPL 2026 auction at a base price of INR 10 lakh but went unsold. This came despite her being shortlisted by multiple franchises and discussed internally as a potential squad option, particularly given the limited pool of Indian left-arm spinners with proven wicket-taking records.
Why Vaishnavi Sharma Wasn’t Picked At WPL 2026 Auction
Vaishnavi Sharma going unsold appears to be a result of auction dynamics rather than any hidden concern about the player.
One key factor is squad composition. Most WPL teams entered the auction with settled spin combinations and limited Indian slots left to fill. Several franchises prioritised specific role-based needs, such as power-hitting batters, seam-bowling all-rounders, or backup wicketkeepers, over adding another frontline spinner, even at base price.
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Another important aspect is opportunity timing. Vaishnavi’s strongest performances came either just before or during the auction window, meaning teams had already locked in their shortlists. WPL auctions tend to reward familiarity and prior exposure within franchise systems, and players breaking through rapidly sometimes miss that first cycle despite strong numbers.
There is also the simple reality of supply exceeding demand. Ayushi Shukla and Nazma Khan, both among the better domestic performers this season, also went unsold. This suggests a broader pattern where Indian spin depth, especially among younger players, outpaced the number of available squad slots, rather than any specific issue related to Vaishnavi Sharma’s skill set or fitness.
Finally, teams may have viewed Vaishnavi as a long-term prospect rather than an immediate starter, choosing to delay investment by a season rather than commit a slot in a tight auction.
Vaishnavi Sharma’s current trajectory suggests that her WPL omission is unlikely to be permanent. She is already part of the senior international setup, continues to deliver in domestic competitions, and fits a role — Indian left-arm spinner with control — that remains valuable in T20 cricket.
If her performances at the international and U23 levels continue, she is well-placed to be picked either as a replacement during WPL 2026 or as a stronger auction option next season.
For now, the WPL 2026 auction outcome looks less like a reflection of her ability and more like a reminder that auctions often lag behind on-field performance.
