The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 is right around the corner, and the excitement is building as the five franchises prepare for another high-octane season. Ahead of the much-anticipated tournament, Star Sports conducted an exclusive interview with India’s premier all-rounder, Deepti Sharma. During the conversation, Deepti shared her insights on the upcoming matches, potential breakout stars, and her personal expectations. Fans are eagerly waiting to see if this edition can top the previous seasons in terms of intensity and talent. Deepti’s responses have already sparked significant discussion regarding the favorites for the opening clash and the overall title.
Deepti Sharma’s WPL 2026 predictions: From emerging player to winner
- When asked about the player with the calmest mind and smartest shot selection during crunch moments, Deepti displayed her trademark confidence, stating that ‘it can be anyone including she herself or Sophie Ecclestone’ while humble enough to mention herself or her teammate Sophie Ecclestone as prime candidates for that role.
- Moving to the future of the league, she identified Kranti Gaud as the emerging player of the tournament, noting that her rhythm has been exceptional following a solid performance last season.
- For the power-hitting department, Deepti predicted that Phoebe Litchfield would be the highest six-hitter this season, highlighting the Australian’s explosive potential.
- Regarding the winner of high-profile WPL 2026 opening clash between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), she chose to remain neutral, calling both teams champions and stating that the win will simply go to whoever plays better on the day.
- Deepti also expressed her patriotic hope for an Indian player to bag the Orange Cap, saying she would be “very happy” if any Indian across the five teams achieved the feat.
- Finally, when discussing the winner of WPL 2026 edition, she firmly backed her own team, the UP Warriorz, expressing a strong desire for them to “cross the barrier” and lift the trophy for the first time since they have yet to reach a final.
Performance of UP Warriorz in the Women’s Premier League so far
The UP Warriorz have been a team of “close calls” throughout the WPL’s history. In the inaugural 2023 season, they showed great promise by reaching the Eliminator but were ultimately knocked out by Mumbai Indians. The 2024 and 2025 seasons saw them fighting hard, with Deepti Sharma emerging as their most consistent performer; notably, she was the leading run-scorer for the team and the league’s 4th highest overall in 2024, earning the “Player of the Tournament” award.
Following the departure of Alyssa Healy, the management made a significant captaincy decision by officially naming Deepti Sharma as the full-time captain for the 2026 edition. Having previously led the side in Healy’s absence, Deepti’s deep understanding of the squad and her current “rhythm” as the world’s top-ranked all-rounder make her the natural choice to lead the Warriorz. With a revamped squad featuring stars like Sophie Ecclestone and emerging talent Kranti Gaud, the team is heavily betting on Deepti’s leadership to finally secure their maiden WPL title.
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
