Kochi, October 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
UP Warriorz (UPW) were determined to sign Australia captain Sophie Molineux “at any cost” at the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2027 auction, said franchise COO and Director Kshemal Waingankar after the left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder was acquired for Rs 1.10 crore.
UPW fended off competition from defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to secure Molineux for the 2027 season. Waingankar said pairing her with England’s left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone could give the team a formidable spin-bowling combination.
The franchise also has off-spin options in Deepti Sharma and newly acquired Sneh Rana, giving the team several combinations to consider when finalising its playing XI.
“At any cost is the right answer. I think that just puts us in a good position, whether that’s Sophie and Grace combined, to tweak our combinations and decide which combination works best. Grace brings power to the middle order,” Waingankar told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday.
“Sophie Molineux, obviously, leadership qualities, an exceptional bowler and obviously fantastic with the team in general. So our thought was her and Sophie Ecclestone together would be a lethal force. Again, like I said, with Grace, we have the option of switching and seeing how things work,” he added.
UPW also brought back Australian all-rounder Grace Harris for her base price of Rs 30 lakh. Harris returns to the franchise after winning the 2026 WPL title with RCB, and Waingankar agreed that the signing represented excellent value.
“I would agree, yes. I definitely agree that Grace was a steal buy at Rs 30 lakh. But it’s good to have her back. I think she’s been with us from season one,” he said.
Recalling Harris’s impact in the inaugural season, Waingankar highlighted a memorable match-winning performance that helped establish her reputation in the tournament.
“Our first game, I remember, when we had Grace Harris, 51 runs needed off 17 balls. She won us the game and set WPL alight. We were on the other end of the stick last year with her. But she’s someone I think that we were very happy to bring back,” he said.
With Molineux, Ecclestone, Deepti and Rana among their spin-bowling options, UPW face a selection challenge when deciding their preferred combination for the playing XI.
“Not a bad problem to have,” Waingankar said.
UPW have four slots remaining, including one overseas position, and Rs 1.75 crore left in their purse. Waingankar said the franchise was satisfied with the experience in its squad but would continue to address the remaining gaps as the auction progressed.
“We still have a few spots to fill. Having said that, someone like a Grace Harris does come in and solve a few things for us, whether she can bat up the top, can bat through the middle as well, gives us that power,” he said.
“We have experience in our setup already with Deepti, with Harleen, with Pratika coming in this year. So we’re quite happy with what we have, but we will obviously try and cover our bases as we go further into the auction,” Waingankar added.
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