The UP Warriorz entered the 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction with the maximum purse among all five teams, with Rs 14.5 crore in hand. At the end of the auction, the franchise, with new head coach Abhishek Nayar at the helm, assembled a group of experienced and young players, aiming to help them win their maiden title.
Yet, one loophole remained: the absence of a premier wicketkeeper-batter, who could lend balance to the playing XI. The franchise has Phoebe Litchfield and 23-year-old Shipra Giri to don the gloves, but Nayar, who was appointed in place of Jon Lewis, agreed that wicketkeeping was an area of concern for the team, a few days before their season opener against the Gujarat Giants on January 10.
He also cited KL Rahul’s transformation into a batter-keeper in the men’s team, and expressed hope of finding a similar player in the women’s game. “I absolutely agree with you. There are concerns with the wicket-keeping aspect of it. We are working our way around it. We, maybe surprised you all at the start. But we are working towards it.”
He added: “But I think it’s going to be one aspect that’s going to be really important for us at the end of the auction. Reflecting, maybe that was one aspect that we could have gotten better at. But I also understand that sometimes in this T20 format, it’s important to take chances.”
“That’s how KL Rahul became a KL Rahul. So hopefully we can form a women’s KL Rahul who then represents India in the future. But I think that’s one area that we’re working towards. Hopefully, at the start of the WPL, you’ll get your answer. Just have to wait till then,” Nayar said at a press conference on Monday.
The WPL begins with him firmly embedded in the Warriorz setup, but the calendar allows little room to breathe. Once the women’s league concludes, Nayar will need to seamlessly transition into his head coach role with Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.
For Nayar, though, the separation is absolute. “When I’m here, I’m here. When I’m out of here, I’m there,” he said. “When I’m here in the WPL, there is no IPL. So WPL is my priority now. And when WPL is over, IPL becomes a priority.”
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Time with players is limited, he acknowledged, which places greater emphasis on creating an environment rather than micromanaging skills. “It’s about making sure you create an environment where you have high performers, and they can come and express themselves to their fullest potential.”
Lanning’s role
That environment, Nayar believes, becomes significantly easier to build when the captain sets the tone – and few in the women’s game bring a stronger leadership resume than Meg Lanning. Appointed captain on the eve of the season, Lanning represents both authority and assurance for a franchise looking to move forward after three inconsistent campaigns.
“For me, she is the best mind out there in women’s cricket,” Nayar said. “I’ve always believed the best teams have the best captains. And this format, especially, is a captain’s format. Having Meg there makes things very easy for me because she’s going to take all the pressure,” Nayar said with a laugh.
That support structure will be tested early. Warriorz are banking on a mix of proven internationals and Indian players who have grown with the league, but the absence of a specialist wicketkeeper means adaptability will be crucial. It places added responsibility on leadership to ensure that risks do not snowball into structural weaknesses.
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Yet, if there is a unifying thread to Warriorz’s season so far, it is clarity. With a coach intent on compartmentalising his roles and a captain accustomed to carrying expectation, Warriorz enter the new WPL season not without flaws – but with conviction.
