The WPL 2027 schedule has been announced, and the team with the most to prove would certainly have been waiting eagerly for it. We are talking about UP Warriorz.
Their performances so far have given supporters plenty of reasons to be disappointed. Even with a champion captain like Meg Lanning leading them last season, they finished bottom. They have now ended last in two consecutive seasons, with their only top-three finish coming in the inaugural edition.
But this time, there are reasons to expect a stronger response. Some smart auction purchases have given UP Warriorz what looks like their most balanced squad yet. The challenge is to turn that promise into results.
Are UP Warriorz the Dark Horse of WPL 2027?
Sophie Molineux, Grace Harris, Sneh Rana and Kathryn Bryce are important additions. Together, they give UPW more options with both bat and ball and greater flexibility when choosing their playing XI.
Molineux strengthens the spin department alongside Sophie Ecclestone and Deepti Sharma. Rana and Asha Sobhana add further depth, giving the team several wicket-taking options suited to different match situations.
Read alsoRCB’s WPL 2027 Schedule and Squad: Ready for Another Title Charge?Check RCB WPL 2027 fixtures, the complete squad and new signings as the defending champions prepare to chase a third Women’s Premier League title.
The pace attack has Shikha Pandey and Kranti Gaud, with Bryce offering another seam-bowling option. At the top of the batting order, Meg Lanning and Phoebe Litchfield give UPW a strong opening combination.
The main concern is power-hitting in the middle and lower-middle order. A strong start will only take the team so far if it cannot maintain the scoring rate or finish an innings effectively.
That makes Grace Harris particularly important. Finding a place for her in the playing XI could help address this weakness. Her ability to attack the bowling can give UPW the acceleration they need after the top order has built a platform.
With several strong overseas players competing for places, getting the combination right will be crucial. If the middle order delivers, UP Warriorz have the balance to surprise the established contenders in WPL 2027.
UP Warriorz WPL 2027 Schedule and Timings
UP Warriorz will begin their campaign against Gujarat Giants on January 15 in Vadodara. They will play eight league matches, facing each of the other four teams twice.
Their first five fixtures will take place in Vadodara, followed by three at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium, CCI. Every match starts at 7:30 PM IST.
| UPW Match | Date | Fixture | Time (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | January 15, 2027 | Gujarat Giants vs UP Warriorz | 7:30 PM | They're gone |
| 2 | January 17, 2027 | UP Warriorz vs Mumbai Indians | 7:30 PM | They're gone |
| 3 | January 19, 2027 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs UP Warriorz | 7:30 PM | They're gone |
| 4 | January 21, 2027 | UP Warriorz vs Delhi Capitals | 7:30 PM | They're gone |
| 5 | January 24, 2027 | UP Warriorz vs Gujarat Giants | 7:30 PM | They're gone |
| 6 | January 28, 2027 | Mumbai Indians vs UP Warriorz | 7:30 PM | Mumbai-CCI |
| 7 | January 31, 2027 | UP Warriorz vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 7:30 PM | Mumbai-CCI |
| 8 | February 3, 2027 | Delhi Capitals vs UP Warriorz | 7:30 PM | Mumbai-CCI |
The Eliminator will be played on February 5 and the final on February 7, both at Mumbai-CCI at 7:30 PM IST. UPW’s participation will depend on qualification. The league leaders advance directly to the final, while the second- and third-placed teams contest the Eliminator.
UP Warriorz’s Complete WPL 2027 Squad
UPW have an 18-player squad featuring 12 Indian and six overseas players. They added eight players at the auction to the 10 retained players remaining after Tara Norris’s trade to Mumbai Indians.
| Player | Squad Status |
|---|---|
| Meg Lanning | Retained |
| Deepti Sharma | Retained |
| Harleen Deol | Retained |
| Kranti Gaud | Retained |
| Phoebe Litchfield | Retained |
| Pratika Rawal | Retained |
| Shikha Pandey | Retained |
| Shipra Giri | Retained |
| Simran Shaikh | Retained |
| Sophie Ecclestone | Retained |
| Sophie Molineux | Auction signing—₹1.10 crore |
| Grace Harris | Auction signing—₹30 lakh |
| Sneh Rana | Auction signing—₹30 lakh |
| Asha Sobhana | Auction signing—₹30 lakh |
| Sushma Verma | Auction signing—₹30 lakh |
| Kathryn Bryce | Auction signing—₹10 lakh |
| Manali South | Auction signing—₹10 lakh |
| Sahana Pawar | Auction signing—₹10 lakh |
The six overseas players are Lanning, Litchfield, Ecclestone, Molineux, Harris and Bryce. Molineux was UPW’s biggest auction purchase at ₹1.10 crore.
Read alsoRCB’s WPL 2027 Schedule and Squad: Ready for Another Title Charge?Check RCB WPL 2027 fixtures, the complete squad and new signings as the defending champions prepare to chase a third Women’s Premier League title.
UP Warriorz’s Year-Wise WPL Performance
UPW reached the Eliminator in 2023 but lost to Mumbai Indians by 72 runs. They have not returned to the playoffs since, finishing fourth in 2024 and fifth in both 2025 and 2026.
| Season | Matches | Wins | Losses | League Position | Final Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 3rd | Eliminator exit |
| 2024 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 4th | League-stage exit |
| 2025 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 5th | League-stage exit |
| 2026 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 5th | League-stage exit |
| Total | 33 | 12 | 21 | — | No titles |
The match totals include the 2023 Eliminator. Wins include UPW’s Super Over victory against RCB in 2025.
Last season brought just two wins, six defeats and four points. For this group, the first target must be to end their three-season playoff absence. Their opening match against Gujarat Giants on January 15 will offer the first indication of whether a better-balanced squad can produce a different outcome.