WPL 2025: UP Warriorz Captain Deepti Sharma Embraces Every Challenge

New Delhi, Feb 13 (NationPress) As the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 approaches another exhilarating season, a new chapter begins for the UP Warriorz. The off-spinning all-rounder Deepti Sharma has stepped into the captaincy role after Australian star Alyssa Healy was sidelined due to a foot injury. With the tournament kicking off on Friday, Deepti is prepared to tackle the challenge of leading the WPL team for the first time.

Having previously captained her state team, Deepti is familiar with leadership. She recognized Healy’s absence as a significant setback but conveyed her commitment to steering the Warriorz toward a stronger and more consistent season. “I am thrilled about leading in the WPL. I have experience from leading my state team, which I will utilize. This represents a different challenge, but I embrace challenges at any level,” Deepti stated during the Star Sports Press Room program.

The UP Warriorz secured third place in the first WPL season but stumbled last year, eliminating them at the league stage. Deepti’s leadership, complemented by her outstanding performances in 2024 — where she scored 295 runs and took 10 wickets, including a historic hat-trick — will be pivotal for their quest for redemption.

“Alyssa has been a vital part of the team. She excelled as the captain in the previous two seasons, and her absence will be felt. However, with this opportunity, I aim for the team to play a robust brand of cricket. We had a solid performance in the inaugural season but lost our momentum last year. This time, we strive for consistency and aim to deliver our best performances,” Deepti added.

On the other hand, defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), led by Smriti Mandhana, are also facing a significant absence. Their star all-rounder and New Zealand captain Sophie Devine has opted out of WPL 2025 to prioritize her mental well-being.

“We had a fantastic auction, and the domestic season showcased impressive overall quality. I am genuinely excited about several players — Prema Rawat is a remarkable talent, Raghvi Bist possesses great potential, and Kanika Ahuja is making a return after an injury. I eagerly anticipate watching them shine in the WPL.

“Sophie Devine has been one of the world’s premier all-rounders and has played a crucial role for us. Her absence will definitely be felt, but mental well-being takes precedence, and we respect her decision. Despite injuries to key players, we are determined to rise as a collective unit,” Mandhana stated.

RCB has introduced exciting domestic talents such as Prema Rawat, Raghvi Bist, and Kanika Ahuja, with Mandhana eager to witness their performances. The team will commence their title defense against Gujarat Giants in the season opener on Friday in Vadodara.

The upcoming WPL season guarantees fierce competition with matches taking place across four venues: Vadodara, Bengaluru, Lucknow, and Mumbai. After six games in Vadodara, the action shifts to Bengaluru, where RCB will host their first home game at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on February 21.

Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium will debut as a WPL venue, hosting UP Warriorz’s home matches against Gujarat Giants, Mumbai Indians, and RCB on March 3, 6, and 8, respectively. The tournament will then transition to the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, where the league stage will conclude with the Mumbai Indians’ back-to-back home games on March 10 and 11.

Brabourne Stadium will also host the knockout stage, featuring the Eliminator on March 13, followed by the grand finale on March 15.