Former India captain Anjum Chopra has welcomed the appointment of ex-chief selector Neetu David as chief scout of Women's Premier League (WPL) franchise UP Warriorz (UPW), describing it as a natural and well-deserved progression for one of Indian women's cricket's most accomplished figures. The appointment marks David's first franchise T20 role after stepping down as chair of the women's selection committee.

A Decorated Career Meets a New Challenge

Neetu David is among the most celebrated names in Indian women's cricket. An accomplished left-arm spinner, she represented India in 10 Tests and 97 ODIs between 1995 and 2008, finishing with 182 wickets across formats. She still holds the record for the best bowling figures in a women's Test innings — 8 for 53 against the West Indies in Jamshedpur in 1995. In 2024, she became only the second Indian woman inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.

What Anjum Chopra Said

Speaking in an exclusive conversation on Wednesday, Chopra underlined David's dual value — as a match-winner during her playing days and as someone with intimate knowledge of the current player pool from her time as a selector. 'It's nice that she's got an opportunity to work with one of the franchise teams,' Chopra said. 'The discussions are very different, the preparation is very different, the thinking is very different. She, as an individual, will also be exposed to so many different things.'

Chopra added that David's presence could benefit the players around her: 'She can obviously impart that kind of skill to these players.' David's tenure as chair of the women's selection committee, which began in 2020, culminated in the Harmanpreet Kaur-led India squad winning the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup on home soil — a landmark achievement in Indian women's cricket.

UPW's Recent Struggles and Rebuilding Effort

UP Warriorz made the playoffs in the inaugural WPL season in 2023 but finished bottom of the table in both 2025 and 2026. Chopra noted the paradox: 'When they had the auction in November 2025, everyone looked at that team led by Meg Lanning and thought, 'What a squad.' So, I don't know where it went haywire for them this time.'

Prior to David's appointment, UPW's scouting was handled locally by the coaching staff. Former Centre of Excellence bowling coach Rajib Dutta was also briefly engaged during this year's women's Bengal T20 league. The franchise recently held a short off-season camp in Bengaluru, where David was present alongside head coach Abhishek Nayar and mentor Lisa Sthalekar.

What Her Role Could Mean for WPL 2027

As chief scout, David brings a rare combination of on-field excellence and selection-room insight. Her familiarity with emerging talent — built over years of watching players come through the ranks — is expected to sharpen UPW's recruitment and player-development strategy ahead of WPL 2027. The franchise will be hoping David's appointment signals a genuine structural shift, not just a headline addition, as they look to reverse two successive last-place finishes.