UPW Enters Auction With Big Purse and Clear Plan

Walking into the WPL 2026 auction with the most money to spend, UP Warriorz made some of the biggest headlines of the day. They secured Shikha Pandey for INR 2.40 crore, brought Deepti Sharma back using the RTM (right to match) option, and picked England’s world-class spinner Sophie Ecclestone for just INR 85 lakh.

Their new head coach, Abhishek Nayar, taking over from Jon Lewis, said the team had entered the auction with a clear mindset: bring back experience, secure their core Indian players with RTM, and use their purse smartly.

Why UPW Targeted Shikha Pandey

Nayar said the team had a specific goal when it came to Shikha Pandey.

“[Shikha] came for the trials. She is an experienced player, and we wanted her experience of having played in high-pressure tournaments,” he said after the auction.

He noted that Shikha’s stats in the WPL speak for themselves. She has been the most successful Indian pace bowler across the last three seasons, performing strongly in both the powerplay and death overs.

Nayar added that while younger bowlers like Kranti Gaud bring energy, the team needed a proven performer for big moments.

Shikha Pandey’s Recent Form in Franchise Cricket

Even though Pandey hasn’t played T20Is for India since February 2023, she has remained active in global leagues, including the WPL, Women’s CPL, and WBBL.

Recently, she played all four matches for Trinbago Knight Riders in the WCPL, finishing as their top wicket-taker with five wickets and an economy of 6.73.

Across all WPL seasons, she stands as the leading Indian fast bowler with 30 wickets (economy 6.96). Only Nat Sciver-Brunt has more wickets overall (32).

Ecclestone’s Price Shocked the Coach

One of the biggest surprises of the auction was Sophie Ecclestone going for just INR 85 lakh.

Nayar openly admitted, “I was very surprised; everyone was surprised. I thought she would go for something like 1.5 crore.”

Despite being one of the top spinners in world cricket No. 1 in ODIs and No. 4 in T20Is Ecclestone’s final price was far lower than expected. For UPW, it became one of the best value buys of the day.

RTM Strategy: Deepti Sharma Always Part of the Plan

UPW used the RTM option for Deepti Sharma, who had captained the side earlier in the absence of Alyssa Healy.

Although some were surprised the team released her before the auction, Nayar said it was intentional.

“We wanted a big purse in the auction, that's it,” Nayar explained. Deepti’s retention price was INR 3.5 crore, and UPW brought her back for INR 3.2 crore, leaving them more money to build depth.

This extra budget allowed them to pick additional players, such as Pratika Rawal, despite her injury.

RTM Used for Four Players But Not Alyssa Healy

UPW had four RTM options and used them for Deepti, Ecclestone, Gaud, and Kiran Navgire.

Healy, surprisingly, went unsold despite being the first name in the mega auction.

To fill the opening slot, UPW brought in former Australia captain Meg Lanning, one of the WPL’s most consistent run-scorers, and rising Australian talent Phoebe Litchfield.

Why UPW Wanted Lanning and Litchfield

Nayar praised both, calling Meg a natural leader and Phoebe a future star.

He said:

“Phoebe is also a kind of a leader… she is a fearless cricketer and can play 360 or 180. We were very excited to get her with that money.”

He kept UPW’s opening combination a secret, joking that revealing it would help other teams plan.

UPW’s Big Bet on Pratika Rawal

Another important signing was India’s ODI opener Pratika Rawal.

Although she is injured and may not play this season, UPW wanted her long-term potential.

Nayar explained,

“When you buy a good player there's no guarantee that she will be fit… but we know that if there's a superstar rising through Indian cricket, it's Pratika Rawal.”

UPW sees her as a player who could shape the franchise’s identity in the future and play a big role in upcoming retention cycles.