UP Warriorz (UPW) secured Australia captain Sophie Molineux for ₹1.10 crore at the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2027 auction in Kochi on 28 October, with franchise COO and Director Kshemal Waingankar confirming the team was willing to pay whatever it took to land the left-arm spin bowling all-rounder. UPW edged out defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the bidding war to secure one of women's cricket's most versatile match-winners.

'At Any Cost' — The Molineux Chase

'At any cost is the right answer,' Waingankar told reporters at the post-auction press conference on Wednesday, summing up the franchise's intent. The COO highlighted that Molineux brings rare value — leadership credentials, exceptional left-arm spin, and a commanding presence in team dynamics. UPW's strategy was to pair her with England's own left-arm spin threat Sophie Ecclestone, creating what Waingankar described as 'a lethal force' in the bowling attack.

'Sophie Molineux, obviously, leadership qualities, an exceptional bowler and obviously fantastic with the team in general. So our thought was her and Sophie Ecclestone together would be a lethal force,' Waingankar said. The dual-spinner combination gives UPW flexibility to rotate match-ups and vary spin combinations depending on pitch conditions and opposition line-ups.

Grace Harris Returns at a Steal

UPW also brought back Australian all-rounder Grace Harris at her base price of ₹30 lakh — a deal Waingankar readily acknowledged as exceptional value. Harris had left UPW to join RCB, with whom she won the 2026 WPL title, but returns to the franchise she debuted with from Season 1.

'I would agree, yes. I definitely agree that Grace was a steal buy at ₹30 lakh. But it's good to have her back,' Waingankar said. He recalled Harris's iconic debut performance: '51 runs needed off 17 balls — she won us the game and set WPL alight.' Her ability to bat at the top of the order or through the middle order adds significant tactical depth to UPW's batting unit.

Spin Depth and Selection Headaches

With Molineux and Ecclestone in the squad, UPW already possess a formidable spin attack. Add to that Deepti Sharma and newly acquired off-spinner Sneh Rana, and the franchise faces what Waingankar called a 'not a bad problem to have' selection conundrum. The wealth of spinning options means the team can mix left-arm and off-spin combinations to suit specific match conditions.

Notably, this is among the most spin-heavy squads assembled in WPL history, reflecting a deliberate strategic philosophy rather than an accidental accumulation of talent.

What Remains and What Comes Next

UPW still have four slots to fill — including one overseas spot — with a remaining purse of ₹1.75 crore. Waingankar indicated the team is largely satisfied with the experience already in the squad, which includes Harleen Deol and young opener Pratika Rawal, who joins this season. The remaining auction slots will be used to address specific squad gaps.

'We have experience in our setup already with Deepti, with Harleen, with Pratika coming in this year. So we're quite happy with what we have, but we will obviously try and cover our bases as we go further into the auction,' Waingankar said. As the WPL 2027 season approaches, UPW appear to have assembled a squad capable of challenging for the title they last came close to winning.