The cricket world is reeling from a shocking announcement as India's World Cup-winning all-rounder, Deepti Sharma, has been released by the UP Warriorz ahead of the 2026 Women's Premier League (WPL) mega auction. The decision has left fans and analysts stunned, especially considering Sharma's stellar performance in the recent ICC Women's ODI World Cup, where she was named Player of the Tournament.
Sharma was instrumental in India's victorious World Cup campaign, showcasing her exceptional all-round abilities. She finished as the highest wicket-taker and contributed crucial runs in pivotal matches, including a match-winning performance of 5/39 and 58 runs in the final against South Africa. Her consistent performances earned her the coveted Player of the Tournament award.
The UP Warriorz's decision to release Sharma, who was bought for INR 2.6 crore, comes as a surprise, especially since she also bagged the Player of the Tournament award in the 2024 WPL season. In 25 WPL matches, she has scored 507 runs at a strike rate of 117.63 and picked up 27 wickets.
Abhishek Nayar, the head coach of UP Warriorz, addressed the unexpected move, citing the franchise's desire for a "clean slate" and to maximize their auction purse. "It is always hard when it comes to retentions when you have so many good players, leaders in their own rights, high-performing players. But I think the thought from the franchise was to go in with a clean slate," Nayar explained.
Nayar further elaborated that the decision was strategic, aiming to have as much money available in the auction to acquire players who align with their vision for winning the championship. He also suggested the possibility of reacquiring Sharma in the auction, stating, "Have as much money in the purse as possible to make sure we can not only get the players that we feel can win the Championship, but also get a lot of these players back in the auction".
The UP Warriorz have retained only one player, the uncapped Shweta Sehrawat (₹50 lakh). This means they will enter the mega auction with the largest purse among all teams, a substantial ₹14.5 crore. Additionally, the franchise holds four Right to Match (RTM) cards, allowing them to potentially buy back released players, including Sharma and other former stars like Alyssa Healy and Sophie Ecclestone.
Apart from Deepti Sharma, other notable players released by the UP Warriorz include Alyssa Healy, Sophie Ecclestone, Grace Harris and Tahlia McGrath. Several other teams have also released prominent players, including Meg Lanning (Delhi Capitals), Amelia Kerr (Mumbai Indians), and Renuka Singh Thakur (Royal Challengers Bangalore).
The WPL mega auction is scheduled for November 27 in New Delhi. With a substantial purse and the strategic use of RTM cards, the UP Warriorz have the opportunity to rebuild their squad and potentially bring back Deepti Sharma, depending on the bidding dynamics. The decision to release a player of Sharma's caliber underscores the dynamic nature of franchise cricket and the strategic considerations that go into team composition. The upcoming auction promises to be a high-stakes event as teams vie for the top talent to build competitive squads for the 2026 WPL season.
