Cricket News
A look at the predicted playing XI of the UP Warriorz
The UP Warriorz franchise spent big at the Women’s T20 league auction held on Monday, 13th February. They had a different strategy altogether for the Women’s T20 league as they didn’t go for the traditional approach of buying a couple of big-name players and forming the team around them. They roped in 10 players for approximately INR 9.05 Crores and built a strong core for the team.
This might be a good approach as this covers the franchise for a couple of years instead of the upcoming tournament. They did buy some major superstars of the women’s game but bought them at smart prices. They came out with a clear approach and bought players that would suit their style of play.
Let’s take a look at the predicted playing XI of the UP Warriorz for the upcoming Women’s T20 league.
1) Alyssa Healy
Alyssa Healy is a household name in women’s cricket and has been one of the top performers for the Australian side for a good number of years now. Healy was a steal buy for the franchise as she just costed INR 70 lakh. Healy is an explosive opener and can get going from the start and her power hitting can be very vital for the franchise.
She is a great wicket keeper as well for the Australian side. So it is pretty certain that she will be keeping the wickets for the franchise throughout the tournament. Healy has the experience of captaining on an International level as well, so she might be one of the major candidates for the captaincy role.
2) Shweta Sehrawat
Shweta Sehrawat: (Image Source: Twitter)
Shweta Sehrawat was one of the biggest positives for Team India from the Under-19 Women’s 20-20 World Cup. She was one of the most consistent batters for the team and a batter that the team could rely upon. She scored three fifties in nine matches at the tournament and was known to finish the games and close out difficult chases.
Even though she bats at number three for the Indian under-19 team, she can slot at the openers slot and provide the much needed support for other batters, who can play their attacking shots. She knows how to anchor the innings which is a much needed skill in a tournament such as this.
3) Devika Vaidya
Devika Vaidya: (Image Source: Twitter)
Devika Vaidya has been in and out of the Indian team ever since she made her debut for the national team back in 2014. She recently made a comeback to the side after a string of consistent performances. She is currently part of the Indian squad taking part in the 20-20 World Cup.
She is usually a middle order batter but can be a reliable number three for her side. She bowls leg-spin and can be a key bowler as well on tricky wickets. She was a great buy for the team but she needs to justify her price tag of INR 1.4 crore.
4) Tahlia Mcgrath
Tahlia Mcgrath: (Image Source: Twitter)
Tahlia Mcgrath, the number one ranked T20I batter in the world. She has scored runs wherever she has gone. She is a very reliable and consistent middle-order batter. She can take the games close and win the match along with scoring big hits to take the team to big totals. She has a great average of over 60 in T20Is which is a very rare feat in this format.
She can also provide some overs to the team as she can bowl at medium pace and her slower deliveries might trouble the batters. Her bowling goes under the radar but can be helpful on a few occasions.
5) Kiran Navgire
Kiran Navgire: (Image Source: Twitter)
Up Warriorz made a smart decision of opting for power hitting lower down the order which might be fruitful for them in winning games. We have seen over the years in the Indian T20 league that the franchises have hard power hitters who can help them achieve big targets or take them to big innings totals.
Kiran has a similar play-style which would help the franchise in the long run. She can also be promoted to the top order when the team is in trouble and needs to chase a big total. Her shot making combined with the distance she hits, is a skill unparalleled in the women’s game.
6) Grace Harris
Grace Harris: (Image Source: Twitter)
Grace Harris has been a key figure for the Australian side and slots herself in the number six spot in the team and can play a vital role for the UP Warriorz. She is known to be a great spinner but her batting antics always go under the radar.
She has a strike rate of over 100 and can be a key middle order player for the team but can hit big shots for her team when needed. In the bowling department, she can provide the team with a few overs and has a great economy of less than six.
7) Deepti Sharma
Deepti Sharma: (Image Source: Twitter)
The marquee signing for the UP Warriorz was the purchase of the Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma. She is a true leader and one of the main candidates to lead this team. The amount of experience she has is beyond incredible and has represented in all three formats of the game.
She can be a handy batter for the team in the lower-middle order and can deliver with the ball as well. She has over 900 runs and 97 wickets in T20Is making her one of the most premium all-rounders in the world.
8) Anjali Sarvani
Anjali Sarvani: (Image Source: Twitter)
The young Anjali Sarvani, who had recently made her debut for Team India, was bought in the auction by the UP Warriorz. She is 25 years old and has a huge potential to grow and develop to be a great bowler for the franchise as well as the Indian team.
She had a mediocre run in the Indian team in the six matches she played but if developed and trained well under the mentorship of the great coaches in hand, she can be a lethal bowler in which the franchise invested.
9) Sophie Eccelstone
Sophie Ecclestone: (Image Source: Twitter)
A household name in the women’s game and a crucial player for the England team. She showed her class for England in the ongoing 20-20 Women’s World Cup. She is just 23 years old and has over 65 T20Is and has taken more than 90 wickets with an economy less than six.
This is a great purchase for the UP Warriorz as they have invested in a young player who has great experience and is delivering at the international stage already. She will surely be a key part of the franchise for many years to come.
10) Shabnim Ismail
Shabnim Ismail: (Image Source: Twitter)
One of the fastest bowlers in the women’s game is Shabnim Ismail. Her accurate line and length coinciding with the pace she bowls at, is just terrifying to see as a batter. She is one of the very few people to have played in the 20-20 Women’s World Cup since its inauguration in 2009.
She made her debut in 2007 and has an experience of more than 100 T20Is. She has taken over 110 wickets with an economy of just over five. She will be a key bowler for UP Warriorz and would be hoping to take wickets for her new franchise and terrorize the batters with her bowling.
11) Rajeshwari Gaikwad
Rajeshwari Gaikwad: (Image Source: Twitter)
A common name in the Indian women’s team for a number of years, Rajeshwari Gaikwad has been in and out of the side recently but nonetheless is an amazing spinner. She has many variations in her skill set and would be looking to stamp her authority on the batters right from the off.
She has an experience of over 50 T20Is and has taken over 55 wickets at a decent economy of just over 6. She can help taking wickets at crucial junctures of the game and turn the tide of the match in her team’s favour.