It sent shockwaves through the Women’s Premier League (WPL) community: UP Warriorz, a franchise that leaned heavily on star all-rounder Deepti Sharma in past seasons, chose not to retain her for WPL 2025. This decision came just weeks after her stellar performance in the Women’s T20 World Cup, where she earned Player of the Match honors in India’s historic final win .
So, what gives? Was it a fallout? A salary cap issue? Or something deeper?
Thankfully, head coach Abhishek Nayar has pulled back the curtain on the real reason—and it’s not what fans expected. Far from a snub, the move is part of a bold, long-term vision to rebuild a championship-caliber squad from the ground up. Let’s break down the strategy, the stakes, and what it means for Deepti’s future in saffron and blue.
On paper, letting go of a player like Deepti Sharma—a dependable all-rounder who bowls tight left-arm spin and delivers crucial cameos with the bat—seems counterintuitive. Especially after her match-winning 2/15 in the World Cup final . Many fans assumed she was untouchable.
Adding to the confusion, UP Warriorz also released other core players, signaling a full-scale squad overhaul. In a league as competitive and fast-evolving as the WPL, such a pivot demands explanation—and Nayar was quick to provide one.
According to Abhishek Nayar, the decision wasn’t about Deepti’s performance—it was about resetting the squad architecture for sustained success.
“We wanted to go back to square one,” Nayar explained. “By not retaining key players, we gain maximum financial flexibility and a clean slate to build a balanced, future-ready unit through the mega auction” .
This approach is common in mature T20 leagues like the IPL, where franchises occasionally opt for a “soft reset” to avoid salary cap constraints and inject fresh talent. For UP Warriorz, who narrowly missed the playoffs in WPL 2024, it was a calculated risk to chase a title in 2025.
The WPL 2025 mega auction gives franchises a rare opportunity to bid for nearly the entire player pool. By releasing their retained core, UP Warriorz now enters with one of the largest purse balances—and maximum strategic freedom.
Their new blueprint likely includes:
As noted by the ESPNCricinfo WPL analysis desk, such resets often yield stronger, more cohesive units in the long run—if executed wisely.
Here’s the twist: Nayar didn’t rule out re-signing Deepti Sharma during the mega auction. In fact, he hinted that she remains highly valued.
“Just because we didn’t retain her doesn’t mean we don’t want her,” he said. “If she’s available at the right price and fits our new structure, we’ll absolutely go for her” .
This opens a fascinating scenario: Deepti could end up back with UP Warriorz—but now as a strategic acquisition, not an automatic pick. It also means she’s free to field offers from other franchises like Delhi Capitals or Royal Challengers Bangalore, who may be willing to pay a premium for her World Cup-winning pedigree.
Initial fan reactions on social media ranged from outrage to cautious optimism. Many #UPWarriorz supporters expressed concern over losing a homegrown leader. However, seasoned WPL pundits praised the move as “brave but necessary.”
Former India cricketer Anjum Chopra, commenting on the strategy, said: “Retention isn’t loyalty—it’s optimization. If you’re serious about winning, you re-evaluate every season.”
UP Warriorz’s bold reset could trigger a domino effect. Other franchises might follow suit, leading to the most dynamic, unpredictable WPL auction yet. For fantasy cricket managers, this means player values will shift dramatically—making pre-auction research critical [[INTERNAL_LINK:fantasy-cricket-wpl-2025-tips]].
More importantly, it signals the WPL’s maturation as a league where long-term strategy trumps short-term sentiment—a sign of healthy, competitive evolution.
The headline “UP Warriorz not retain Deepti Sharma” may have caused panic, but the reality is far more strategic. This isn’t the end of an era—it’s the beginning of a smarter, more flexible approach to squad building. Whether Deepti returns in 2025 or not, her legacy with the franchise remains intact. And for UP Warriorz, the ultimate goal hasn’t changed: lift the WPL trophy. Sometimes, to leap forward, you have to step back first.
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