UP Warriorz walk into Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 with a bowling unit that looks, on paper, the most complete and intimidating in the tournament. It is a group that combines world class spin, experienced new ball operators, proven death specialists and a sprinkling of exciting young talent. Crucially, almost every bowler in this attack has already delivered under international or WPL pressure, which makes this unit look ready-made rather than experimental.
At the heart of the Warriorz bowling plans stands Sophie Ecclestone, arguably the premier left‑arm spinner in Women’s T20I cricket. With 142 wickets in 101 T20Is at a miserly economy of 5.96, she has built a reputation as the bowler whenever they need control and breakthroughs together. Her WPL numbers only reinforce that status 36 wickets in 25 matches, including the best of 4 for 13, underline how often she dominates on Indian pitches that reward accuracy and subtle turn. The mere presence of Ecclestone allows UPW to attack from the other end, knowing one side of the pitch is effectively locked down.
Deepti Sharma adds another layer of class to this spin pack. A genuine all‑rounder, she has 152 wickets in 133 T20Is at an economy of 6.12, figures that speak of relentless discipline and clever variations. In the WPL she has already picked up 27 wickets in 25 games, showing how adept, she is at operating in the middle overs, when batters are desperate to push the rate yet wary of losing wickets. With Deepti and Ecclestone working together, the Warriorz can choke scoring through spin while still hunting wickets, a balance most sides struggle to achieve.
Seam bowling is anchored by the experienced Shikha Pandey. Her international record of 43 wickets in 62 T20Is at the economy of 6.49, with the best of 3 for 14 highlights her skill with the new ball and her ability to nip it around just enough. In the WPL she has 30 wickets from 27 matches, going at only 6.96 and boasting a best spell of 3 for 23, numbers that are gold in a league increasingly skewed towards batting. Shikha’s control in the powerplay and at the death gives the team dependable overs whenever the game tightens.
Around this core, UP Warriorz have assembled a set of X‑factor options who can swing matches in short bursts. Deandra Dottin’s primary reputation is with the bat, but her medium pace has produced 71 wickets in 138 T20Is, including a jaw dropping 5 for 5 that remains one of the format’s iconic spells. In the WPL she has 9 wickets in 8 games with the best of 2 for 14, often breaking partnerships with heavy ball cutters into the pitch.
The young pacer Kranti Goud offers the emerging Indian angle, in 4 WT20Is she has 2 wickets, and her WPL stats shows 6 wickets in 8 matches, highlighted by a superb 4 for 25 that showed she can dismantle a line‑up on her day. Fresh off a successful ODI year, leading India’s bowling attack at the World Cup and a 6-fer in England, Kranti has established herself as a go-to bowler for any team she plays, bringing with her a knack for taking wickets.
What completes this attack is the supporting cast visible in the squad: Asha Sobhana’s leg break googly and others who can chip in with disciplined overs, plus the tactical nous of leaders like Meg Lanning to use them smartly. With variety in angle, pace and spin, and a track record of wickets across conditions, UP Warriorz boast a bowling attack that, on paper, looks ready to suffocate even the most explosive batting units in WPL 2026.
UP Warriorz’s Squad for WPL 2026:
Asha Sobhana, Charli Knott, Chloe Tryon, Deandra Dottin, Deepti Sharma, Harleen Deol, Kiran Navgire, Kranti Goud, Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield, Pratika Rawal, Shikha Pandey, Shipra Giri, Shweta Sehrawat, Simran Shaikh, Sophie Ecclestone, Suman Meena, Trisha Gongadi
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