Filling the Ellyse Perry-sized gap: How RCB’s WPL 2026 Auction took shape

Planning to structure a team at a Mega Auction is no easy task, let alone in a situation when one of your core retained players pulls out of the season citing personal reasons.

That’s exactly what transpired between RCB and Ellyse Perry, with the Australian all-rounder, who was retained for INR 2 Crore, communicating her unavailability a few days before the auction.

On Episode 2 of the WPL Auction planning series, an inside view was given into how the think-tank worked around Perry’s absence, a decision that influenced some of the overseas picks.

At the start, head coach Malolan Rangarajan is seen saying, “We're all now aware, Perry has officially communicated that she's going to pull out of the WPL. Perry is not there, how best can we replace her runs in the team?”

He added, “We will not be able to replace her completely because she's got a 1000 runs for us in three years, close to a 1000. So with the available options, how do we go about it? And do we still stick to trying to pick the best bowling unit? Or does it look like we have to completely change our approach?”

Perry has undoubtedly been a star performer for RCB, with 972 runs across 25 matches at a strike rate of 132 - including an Orange Cap-winning performance in the 2024 title winning season.

Referencing the Australian’s run-scoring, Malolan said, “With Perry, obviously, what do we know that Perry does very well? This quantum of runs, number one. She's held the team together from a batting point of view. We've won nine games, excluding the two playoff games we've played. We've won nine games in three years, she's been the only consistent player across wins and losses. So even when we've been under pressure, she's done well. Her powerplay batting record is second to none, if not the best. She bats at a considerable strike rate.”

He followed up and said, “What are the options available out there that we can look to get? And if we decide that we need to prioritize, we should look to get one of the batters to assure ourselves, that immediately means that we have to take some money out from the bowling roles.”

Emphasizing on the players available in the auction, he quipped, “If it's a (Meg) Lanning, if it's a (Laura) Wolvaardt, if it's a (Grace) Harris, that would mean we have to find money from one of the bowling roles. What are we looking for, what are we comfortable with compromising on? So those would be my initial thoughts on trying to replace Perry.”

At the WPL 2026 Mega Auction, RCB signed Georgia Voll (INR 60L) and Grace Harris (INR 75L) - two Australian power-hitters who will undoubtedly add massive value to the batting unit.