All five teams finalised their retention lists as the TATA WPL 2027 retention deadline came by and they will look to plug the remaining gaps at the Player Auction in Kochi on October 28 next. Deepti Sharma opened up about her special connection with UP Warriorz, while Anjum Chopra and Veda Krishnamurthy shared their views on the retention decisions and team combinations of defending champions RCB, runners-up DC and two-time winners MI.
UP Warriorz all-rounder Deepti Sharma reflected on the special feeling of representing the franchise:
“As a player, I always think about how I can stay level-headed, and that mindset pushes me to keep improving. It feels like a great opportunity for me because I belong to UP, from Agra and playing for the UP Warriorz makes that connection special. It gives me extra motivation to perform. When the WPL family comes to watch, it becomes even more enjoyable. The crowd supports us, and it feels like we are playing at home. That kind of backing gives you confidence on the field. I want to contribute as much as I can for this team and make the fans proud.”
On playing the role of a finisher:
“The finishers are the ones who close out the game at the end and, I have been given that role with the bat for the UP Warriorz in whatever matches I have played, right from the start. So, I always think that whatever position I bat at or however many balls I face, I must finish the job. And whatever total is on the board, that stays in my mind. I know how many balls are left and I must get the team to that total. If I stay calm and back my skills, I know I can get the job done. When we think like this during the innings, we learn a lot from that experience. Every match teaches you something new about handling pressure and finishing games.”
Anjum Chopra weighed in on the players released by Mumbai Indians:
“For Mumbai Indians, the difference between the last auction and this one is simple, the last time, Mumbai kept their core playing eleven or twelve and changed the rest. This time, after winning only three or four matches last season, they are forced to make changes. Retaining Haley Matthews, Amelia Kerr, and Nat Sciver-Brunt is an easy call. The real question is which players on the periphery must be released. Among those names, Kamalini is the most surprising. She was the second wicketkeeper in this lineup, and now she is not. That decision is a bit surprising to me. It is not that they cannot buy her back in the auction, but letting her go is still a surprise.”
On the Delhi Capitals’ squad and the gaps they need to fill in the mini auction:
“Finishing as runners-up in the first four seasons without winning the trophy is a question even a million dollars cannot answer for Delhi Capitals. The surprising part for me is that they went in with three wicketkeepers last season and Lizelle Lee was keeping wickets, with Taniya Bhatia also there, and both have been released. Lizelle Lee batted very well at the top and took pressure off the middle order. Not retaining her is a surprise. Now two wicketkeepers are gone, and Sneh Rana and Alana King have also been released. So, they are still figuring out their spin options and their opening pair. They are also unsure whether Jemimah Rodrigues bats at three, opens, or bats at four. They have retained Marizanne Kapp and Annabel Sutherland, which is a positive. But Delhi is still searching for the right combination. So far it has not worked, but maybe this season things might be different.”
Veda Krishnamurthy highlighted how RCB’s playing eleven is already looking strong and settled:
“If you look at the RCB squad, I can put together a playing eleven right now, and it looks really strong. Their opening pair is sorted with Smriti Mandhana and Georgia Voll. Ellyse Perry is a quality number three all-rounder, and Nadine de Klerk brings batting firepower to finish innings. Lauren Bell was brilliant, so their four overseas slots are covered. In the spin department, they have Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav, and Prema Rawat. That gives them three different types of spinners. Arundhati Reddy did well in their title-winning run, and Richa Ghosh is both their wicketkeeper and a finisher. So, the starting eleven is more or less settled. The one area RCB might target in the auction is a number four Indian batter. With Smriti, Georgia Voll, and Ellyse Perry in the top three, adding a solid Indian batter there would complete their batting order and give them good depth.”
