UP Warriorz enter the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2027 auction with a clear rebuild brief. The Abhishek Nayar-coached unit will head into the WPL 2027 auction with the largest purse and one of the clearest rebuilding agendas among the five franchises. After finishing fifth in the 2026 edition with only four points from eight matches, including two victories and six defeats, the Meg Lanning-led side has retained 11 players, released nine, and will have seven vacancies to fill with INR 3.65 crore available for the mini auction in Kochi on 28 October 2026.
The fifth edition of the Women’s Premier League will be played from 14 January to 7 February 2027. The retention deadline passed on 28 September, giving UP Warriorz a first indication of the direction they intend to take after a disappointing campaign.
The retention list includes Deepti Sharma, Harleen Deol, Kranti Gaud, Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield, Pratika Rawal, Shikha Pandey, Shipra Giri, Simran Shaikh, Sophie Ecclestone and Tara Norris. On paper, the group combines international experience, Indian depth and multi-dimensional skills. However, the list also reveals some important gaps, particularly behind the stumps, in the spin-bowling group and among the lower-order power-hitters.
UP Warriorz had only retained India Under-19 World Cup-winning opener Shweta Sehrawat ahead of the 2025 mega auction. Amy Jones and Charli Knott subsequently joined the squad as replacements for Phoebe Litchfield and Tara Norris. With Jones, Asha Sobhana, Knott, Chloe Tryon, Deandra Dottin, Gongadi Trisha, Kiran Navgire, Shweta Sehrawat and Suman Meena now released, the franchise has opted for a significant reset rather than a minor correction.
Wicketkeeper remains the priority
The most pressing requirement is a specialist wicketkeeper-batter. UP Warriorz struggled to find a reliable frontline option in 2026, forcing top-order batter Shweta Sehrawat to take on wicketkeeping duties. Her release makes the issue even more urgent.
Gunalan Kamalini could be an attractive Indian option. The 18-year-old, who represented Mumbai Indians during the last two WPL seasons, has scored 107 runs at a strike rate of 104.90 and an average of 15.28 across 14 matches and 10 innings in the tournament. She has also already made her India T20I debut, appearing against Sri Lanka at Thiruvananthapuram on 30 December 2025. In five T20Is, she has scored 30 runs at a strike rate of 103.44 and an average of 10 across four innings.
If UP Warriorz prefer experience and immediate top-order impact, Lizelle Lee could be the alternative. The former South African wicketkeeper-batter was one of Delhi Capitals’ standout performers in 2026, finishing as the franchise’s leading run-scorer and fourth-highest run-scorer overall. She accumulated 320 runs at a strike rate of 139.13 and an average of 32 in 10 innings, including two half-centuries in her debut WPL season. Her aggressive opening partnership with Shafali Verma demonstrated her ability to provide momentum from the outset.
Adding spin and all-round depth
With Sophie Ecclestone and Deepti Sharma already retained, UP Warriorz have a formidable foundation in the spin department. Yet an additional specialist spinner would give Lanning greater flexibility, particularly on slower Indian surfaces.
Australian leg-spinner Alana King is a logical possibility. She was part of the UP Warriorz setup in the 2025 edition and could offer wicket-taking ability in the middle overs and useful runs lower down the order with the bat. Indian leg-spinner Priya Mishra is another option. The 22-year-old represented Gujarat Giants in 2025 and claimed six wickets at an economy rate of 9.13 in nine matches and innings.
The franchise may also consider bringing back Grace Harris. The Australian batting all-rounder’s ability to change matches with the bat with her explosive power-hitting and contribute useful overs off-spin has already created a significant impact for the UP Warriorz during her stint with the franchise in the first three editions of the tournament.
She has already picked up 15 wickets at an average of 25.93 and an economy of 7.88 in 21 innings, including a four-wicket haul in 31 matches with the ball. She has also scored 581 runs at a strike rate of 140.33 and an average of 32.27 in 21 innings, including 3 half-centuries in 22 matches with the bat for her franchise in the tournament before moving to RCB in the previous edition of the tournament, only to be released ahead of the upcoming mini-auction. She has scored 818 runs at a strike rate of 149.54 and an average of 30.29 in 30 innings, including 5 half-centuries in 31 matches with the bat for her side in the tournament.
Her addition would help compensate for the departure of Deandra Dottin. Harris would add depth to the middle order or as a finisher that could otherwise rely heavily on Lanning, Litchfield, Sophie Ecclestone and Deepti.
Pace attack needs insurance
A promising Indian pacer could complete the rebuild. Titas Sadhu, who missed most of the 2026 season through injury while representing Gujarat Giants, may be an appealing target if fit. Before that campaign, she played for Delhi Capitals and took four wickets at an economy rate of 8.40 in seven matches and innings.
The challenge for UP Warriorz will be balancing established names with emerging Indian talent. Their INR 3.65 crore purse gives them room to act decisively, but seven vacancies mean every signing must serve a clear tactical purpose.
Since the WPL began in 2023, Mumbai Indians have won the title twice, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru have also claimed two championships. Delhi Capitals have finished runners-up on all four occasions. UP Warriorz now need to move beyond promise and build a squad capable of sustaining pressure across an entire season. A frontline wicketkeeper-batter, a second strike spinner, an explosive all-rounder and pace depth should therefore dominate their auction strategy.
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