Mumbai, October 27, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
UP Warriorz head coach Abhishek Nayar has said the franchise will prioritise squad balance, flexibility and role-specific additions at the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2027 auction, rather than pursuing big names without considering their fit within the team.
With the auction scheduled to take place in Kochi on Wednesday, the Warriorz have retained 11 players and have seven slots left to fill, including two for overseas players.
Their retained group features former Australia captain Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield, England’s Sophie Ecclestone and USA international Tara Norris. The Indian contingent includes Deepti Sharma, Harleen Deol, Pratika Rawal, Shikha Pandey, Kranti Gaud, Shipra Giri and Simran Shaikh.
Nayar, who took charge ahead of the 2026 season, said the retained players provide a strong foundation and understand the team’s environment and objectives.
“We have a strong group in place, and the players understand our environment and what we want to achieve. At the auction, we are not looking at it as a chance to simply add names. We want players who complement what we already have, who give us options with both bat and ball, and who can handle different roles depending on the match situation,” he said.
Nayar also emphasised the franchise’s commitment to Indian talent, noting that identifying players with the potential to develop at the highest level would benefit both the team and the individuals.
Kshemal Waingankar, COO and director of cricket at Capri Sports, said the franchise would remain disciplined and follow its squad-building strategy during the auction.
He said the priority was to add the right players around the existing core and create a team capable of performing consistently while providing opportunities for Indian talent to grow.
With seven positions available, the Warriorz will look to complete a balanced squad capable of adapting to different match situations during the upcoming season.
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