4 months ago
2
Having retained conscionable a azygous subordinate – an inconsistent but learning Shweta Sehrawat astatine that – UP Warriorz made it abundantly wide that it was unfastened to a drastic makeover, provided a alteration of fortunes came along. Armed with a purse worthy ₹14.5 crore, the Warriorz had a large tally astatine the mega auction, retaining cardinal players from the squads of the seasons gone by and making astute acquisitions who mightiness adhd a definite sheen to the attack.
While the franchise has nailed the messaging crippled with cautiously curated personage collaborations and on-ground and integer activations, the Capri Sports-owned franchise looks laser-focussed connected the existent prize – a maiden Women’s Premier League crown.
Towards that end, an aboriginal coaching alteration brought successful Abhishek Nayar successful spot of Jon Lewis. In the auction, the Warriorz think-tank bagged 3 of the 5 astir costly players.
In skipper Meg Lanning, Warriorz don’t conscionable person the stableness of the astir astute tactical caput successful the game, but besides an oasis of runs astatine the apical of the order. The broadside besides has the acquisition and match-winning abilities of cricketing nomads similar Shikha Pandey and Deandra Dottin, alongside the young audacity of Kranti Gaud and Phoebe Litchfield. Deepti Sharma and Sophie Ecclestone’s pairing successful the rotation arsenal tin marque the astir assured batters quake.
That said, the deficiency of a frontline ’keeper mightiness sting the Warriorz. Shweta, Shipra Giri, and adjacent Litchfield are options, with the toss-up perchance being betwixt the 2 Indians.
Warriorz made the eliminator successful 2023, thing they haven’t managed to replicate since. Too galore overseas players meant a conflict to dependable the playing XI. A shaky Indian halfway near excessively overmuch for the likes of Deepti to do. This time, those gaping holes look plugged. Can execution lucifer intent? It should, if the Warriorz privation to look from the quicksands of bottommost finishes.
The squad: Meg Lanning (Capt.), Kiran Navgire, Phoebe Litchfield, Shweta Sehrawat (wk), Simran Shaikh, Asha Sobhana Joy, Charli Knott, Chloe Tryon, Deandra Dottin, Deepti Sharma, Harleen Deol, Kranti Gaud, Pratika Rawal, Shikha Pandey, Shipra Giri (wk), Sophie Ecclestone, Suman Meena, and Trisha Gongadi.
Warriorz’s fixtures: At Navi Mumbai: Jan. 10: vs Gujarat Giants*; Jan. 12: Royal Challengers Bengaluru; Jan. 14: Delhi Capitals; Jan 15: Mumbai Indians; Jan. 17: MI*.
At Vadodara: Jan. 22: GG; Jan. 29: RCB; Feb. 1: DC.
(*3 p.m. start, remainder of the matches statesman astatine 7.30 p.m.)
