The head coach of the UP Warriorz, Abhishek Nayar, has taken a baffling decision not to retain the star all-rounder of the Indian side, Deepti Sharma, who was recently named the Player of the Tournament for the Women’s World Cup 2025 in India and Sri Lanka, ahead of the mega auction of Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026, which is set to begin next week in January.

The franchise found itself dropping several high-profile members of the side. The UP-based team, which qualified for the playoffs in the inaugural edition of the WPL, decided to undergo a major overhaul. From the previous season of the event, the only promising youngster- Shweta Sehrawat- has also been retained from the uncapped Indian pool.

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The likes of Alysa Healy, Sophie Eccelesterone, Alana King, Grace Harris, Tahila McGrath- all have been released, along with Indian names as Deepti and Kranti Goud. Deepti has smashed 507 runs in 24 innings of the WPL at an average of 28.16 and a strike rate of 117.63 with the help of three half-centuries.

UP Warriorz head coach reveals reason to drop Deepti Sharma ahead of WPL 2026 auction

Deepti, who delivered a sensational all-round performance at the 50-over World Cup with 215 runs and picked up 22 wickets, including a match-winning fifty and five-wicket haul in the final against South Africa, was seen as one of the key figures in the Blue Brigade’s campaign.

“When it comes to retentions, it’s always difficult because you’re dealing with world-class players and leaders in their own right. The idea from the franchises was to start afresh, have more money available in the purse, and a team that can go all the way. We wanted to make sure we have enough resources to get the players we believe can win the championship.” Head coach of UP Warriorz, Abhishek Nayar, expressed during his interaction on JioStar.

“These calls are never easy, but we believe in our process. The goal now is to go into the auction with intent, make smart decisions, and put together a side capable of winning the title.” The former Indian coach addressed.