If you're looking for the UPW Women best playing XI for WPL 2024, you are in the right place. Keep on reading to know more about UP Warriorz Women as they gear up for the second edition of the Women's Premier League.
The WPL 2024 is set to begin on February 23rd with the first half of the season taking place in Bengaluru and the latter half in Delhi. UP Warriorz Women will begin their season on February 24, taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore Women at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
UP Warriorz Women had a decent season last year, where they reached the knockouts after winning four out of eight games. They were knocked out in the Eliminator, where they lost to Mumbai Indians by 72 runs. They will be hoping for a better campaign in the WPL 2024.
Alyssa Healy will be leading the UPW Women, and they have a good mix of overseas and Indian talent. Let's take a look at the UP Warriorz Women full squad and the UPW Women best playing XI for WPL 2024.
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UP Warriorz (UPW) Women full squad for WPL 2024
Alyssa Healy (captain), Anjali Sarvani, Deepti Sharma, Grace Harris, Kiran Navgire, Laxmi Yadav, Parshavi Chopra, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, S Yashasri, Shweta Sehrawat, Sophie Ecclestone, Tahlia McGrath, Danni Wyatt, Vrinda Dinesh, Poonam Khemnar, Saima Thakor, Gouher Sultana, Chamari Athapaththu
UPW Women best playing XI for WPL 2024
UP Warriorz Women had a pretty good group of players last year and they retained most of them. They let go of a few players, including Shabnim Ismail and Devika Vaidya. UPW Women bolstered the side for this season by acquiring Dani Wyatt, Vrinda Dinesh, Saima Thakor, Poonam Khemnar, and Gouher Sultana in the WPL 2024 auction. England fast bowler Lauren Bell pulled out of the season but UP Warriorz have brought in Chamari Athapaththu as a replacement.
As for the overseas combination, Alyssa Healy, Tahlia McGrath and Sophie Ecclestone are certain starters in this line-up. That leaves Grace Harris, Wyatt and Athapaththu vying for one spot. Below is what we believe would be the UPW Women best playing XI for WPL 2024.
1. Alyssa Healy (c/wk)
Alyssa Healy took over the Australia captaincy from Meg Lanning. Last year, she led UPW Women pretty well and was credited for her leadership abilities. She had a pretty good WPL season last year, where she made 253 runs in nine innings at 32 average and 141 strike rate. Healy has looked in good form recently, scoring 174 runs from six T20Is since the start of this year at an average of 29 while striking at 138.
2. Shweta Sehrawat
Shweta Sehrawat, the 19-year-old all-rounder played six games for UPW Women in the previous season. She opened in four games but couldn't make enough impact. However, she's a proven performer in domestic cricket and should get opportunities in this line-up.
3. Tahlia McGrath
Tahlia McGrath is arguably the most valuable player in the UPW Women best playing XI. The destructive batter is pretty reliable and is a skilful right-arm pacer as well. She was the best batter for UP Warriorz last season, with 302 runs from eight innings at an average of 50 while striking at 158. McGrath registered four fifties in the tournament. With the side lacking experience in the pace department, McGrath will have to play a bigger role with the ball this season.
4. Vrinda Dinesh
Having shown her big-hitting ability in domestic cricket, Vrinda Dinesh should get a spot in the UP Warriorz playing XI. She was excellent in the Senior Women's T20 Trophy, where she smashed 211 runs at a strike rate of 154.01. In the Under-23 T20 Trophy, Vrinda made 281 runs at a strike rate of 134.44 and makes UPW Women best playing XI for WPL 2024.
Kiran Navgire has all the potential to be a star in Indian women's cricket. She has the power that you rarely see in players from the subcontinent. Navgire didn't have a good season last year but scored 53 off 43 and 43 off 27 in a couple of innings.
6. Grace Harris
The powerful striker from Australia, Grace Harris should be picked in the UPW Women best playing XI. Wyatt and Athapaththu are excellent top-order players but the team power in the lower middle order and Harris provides just that. She played six games for UP Warriorz last season and smashed 230 runs at an average of 57 and a strike rate of 165.
7. Deepti Sharma
Deepti Sharma is one of the most valuable assets in Indian women's cricket and UP Warriorz Women put great faith in her, spending INR 3.6 crore in the first auction. The all-rounder couldn't live up to the expectations last year with both bat and ball. But Deepti has been in good form recently, picking five wickets in three T20Is versus Australia.
8. Sophie Ecclestone
Sophie Ecclestone is the best bowler in the game across formats. She is not only a prolific wicket-taker but generally keeps things very tight. The left-arm orthodox spinner was the joint-highest wicket-taker in the WPL 2023 with 16 scalps from nine games at an economy of 6.61. Her overall T20 numbers are ridiculous, having snared 223 wickets from 159 innings at 5.91 rpo.
9. Anjali Sarvani
Anjali Sarvani will have to take the bulk of the pace bowling responsibility for UP Warriorz this season. The left-arm pacer didn't have a great season last year but has the potential to do well, especially with the new ball.
10. Rajeshwari Gayakwad
The 32-year-old left-arm orthodox spinner has good experience of playing at the top level. She should make the cut into the UPW Women best playing XI for WPL 2024. Rajeshwari Gayakwad has pretty good numbers in T20 cricket with 74 wickets at an economy of 6.58.
11. Soppadhandi Yashasri
Soppadhandi Yashasri, a 20-year old medium pacer played one game for UP Warriorz in the previous edition and picked 1 for 26 in three overs. With UPW Women short on pace bowling options, Yashasri could get some game-time.
