After finishing third in the group stage and being knocked out by the Mumbai Indians in the playoff during the inaugural season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in 2023, UP Warriorz slipped to fourth place in the following season. For the next edition, the franchise showed confidence in its core by retaining 15 players and entering the mini-auction in Bengaluru with three slots to fill. Under Alyssa Healy’s leadership, Warriorz fans will be hoping for a strong comeback this year.
Retained squad: Alyssa Healy (c), Anjali Sarvani, Deepti Sharma, Grace Harris, Kiran Navgire, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Shweta Sehrawat, Sophie Ecclestone, Tahlia McGrath, Vrinda Dinesh, Saima Thakor, Poonam Khemnar, Gouher Sultana, Chamari Athapaththu, Uma Chetry.
After a disappointing T20 World Cup in Dubai, where Australia were knocked out in the semi-final and failed to defend their title, the upcoming season will be a significant test for Healy as the skipper. There is a high chance that Athapaththu will open alongside Healy. Other international players like McGrath, Sophie and Harris are also strong contenders for a spot in the playing XI. However, it might be tough to leave out McGrath and Sophie from the final line-up due to their consistency. Depending on the opposition and conditions, Harris and Athapaththu could compete for the same spot.
If not, Vrinda or Shweta might get a chance as an opener, as that will give Healy to use Harris as a finisher. Veteran Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma will be crucial again, but fans will hope to see more explosive performances from her with the bat. The spin trio of Deepti, Sophie and Rajeshwari will play a key role in the team’s success this season.
Meanwhile, Sophie and Deepti are currently the world’s number one and second-ranked bowlers in the shortest format of the game. Uma Chetry, the wicketkeeper-batter, recently played in the West Indies series at home and had a strong domestic season. Kiran will aim to establish herself further as a reliable finisher for the team.
Saima Thakor, a regular for Team India, is expected to lead the pace bowling attack. However, players like Anjali, Vrinda, Rajeshwari and Shweta must step up their performances to justify the franchise’s trust in retaining them, despite their lack of impact last season.
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New recruitments: Arushi Goel (Rs 10 lakh), Kranti Goud (Rs 10 lakh) and Alana King (Rs 30 lakh)
Arushi is a decent batter chosen by the franchise and is likely to be a backup option for the Indian batters in the squad.
Kranti, a 21-year-old from Madhya Pradesh, has played only three T20 matches and taken two wickets at an economy rate of 5.17. However, this will be a great opportunity for her to learn and share the dressing room with star players like Healy, Athapaththu, Sophie and McGrath.
Alana, the Australian leg-spinner, seems to be a backup option for Sophie. She was part of Australia’s squad in the recent Women’s T20 World Cup in Dubai but did not play a single game. However, in the recent Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), she was the highest wicket-taker for Perth Scorchers, claiming 20 wickets in 10 games at a strike rate of 11.30. This makes Alana a handy option for Healy whenever needed.
Overall, UP Warriorz have built a decent team. Their explosive foreign players and strong spin-bowling unit will be key to their success. However, one area they could have improved is adding a quality international pacer like Lauren Bell. The pace-bowling unit, led by Saima, looks a bit weak heading into the next season.
Overall Rating: 7.5/10