Deepti Sharma hopes UP Warriorz captaincy a step up for India role

India all-rounder Deepti Sharma has been appointed captain of UP Warriorz for the upcoming Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025, stepping in for Alyssa Healy, who has been ruled out due to injury. Having served as vice-captain in WPL 2024, Deepti is now set to take full charge of the team.

Healy, Australia’s national captain, was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to a stress injury in her right foot. Her absence leaves a significant void, particularly in UP Warriorz’s batting lineup. However, Deepti's exceptional performance in the previous edition makes her a strong replacement in the leadership role.

In WPL 2024, Deepti was UP Warriorz’s leading run-scorer and the fifth-highest overall in the tournament, despite batting in the top four only twice. She accumulated 295 runs at an astonishing average of 98.33, having been dismissed just twice in eight innings. With the ball, she was equally effective, finishing as the second-highest wicket-taker for Warriorz with 10 wickets at an economy rate of 7.23.