Last Updated:
UP Warriorz head coach Abhishek Nayar discusses releasing Deepti Sharma, Alyssa Healy and others ahead of the Women’s Premier League mega auction.
Check out the full list of players retained by UPW for WPL 2026. (Picture Credit: Sportzpics)
UP Warriorz head coach Abhishek Nayar has said that although it was tough to release the likes of Deepti Sharma and Alyssa Healy, the franchise is looking to go into the mega auction of the Women’s Premier League with a ‘clean slate’, with the team retaining just one player.
Deepti, Healy, England star Sophie Ecclestone, pacer Kranti Goud and all-rounder Grace Harris were among the notable names released by the team on retention deadline day on November 6.
It was a bold move from Nayar, who said that the franchise would enter the mega auction with a clean slate and the largest purse. Nayar, who will coach Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2026 season as well, has replaced Jon Lewis as the WPL team’s head coach.
The biggest surprise was the decision to release Deepti, just days after her match-winning five-wicket haul in the Women’s World Cup final. With 215 runs and 22 wickets, she was named Player of the Tournament as India clinched their maiden Women’s World Cup title.
“It is always hard when it comes to retentions, when you have so many good players, leaders in their own rights, high-performing players. But I think the thought from the franchise was to go in with a clean slate,” Nayar said while speaking on JioStar.
“Have as much money in the purse as possible to make sure we can not only get the players that we feel can win the Championship, but also get a lot of these players back in the auction,” Nayar added.
UP Warriorz are looking for a fresh start after two disappointing seasons. After a play-off finish in the inaugural edition, they slipped to fourth last year and ended at the bottom of the table in WPL 2025.
“Having said that, it is never easy to make these decisions. Right or wrong, never in doubt is something we believe in. The thought process will be to go in with a full purse, try and create the best combination possible,” Nayar said.
November 06, 2025, 20:23 IST
Read More
