WPL 2026: UP Warriorz turn to Meg Lanning to end cycle of underachievement

With only 10 victories in 25 WPL games and 15 losses - the least number of wins for any team in the history of the tournament, UP Warriorz decided to hit the reset button for the 2026 season.

Barring an uncapped Indian, Shweta Sehrawat, they had released everyone and had the biggest purse (INR 14.50 crore) at the auction. Warriorz utilized their purse well and have assembled a sturdy squad ahead of the season.

Strengths

A leader par excellence

Four T20 World Cups (2014, 2018, 2020, and 2023), an ODI World Cup (2022), and a Commonwealth Games gold, Lanning added every silverware to her kitty as Australia's captain. 

She registered 146 wins as skipper of Australia across formats - the most by any captain in women's cricket history. Her unbeaten streak of 35 matches as captain - the longest in the history of international cricket (men or women)- underlines her tactical acumen and legacy as a leader.

She led Delhi Capitals to three consecutive finals in the WPL, and therefore, Warriorz couldn't have asked for a better player to lead them after such a major overhaul.

Robust overseas contingent

Warriorz have put together a robust overseas contingent for WPL 2026. Other than Lanning, they have Phoebe Litchfield, Chloe Tryon, and Deandra Dottin, who can turn the game on their own on a given day.

Sophie Ecclestone proved to be a steal buy for Warriorz after they snaffled her for just 85 lakhs. The left-arm spinner has claimed 142 wickets in 101 games at an economy rate of 5.96 and is the fifth leading wicket-taker in the format.

Weaknesses

Absence of a bankable India batter

Warriorz do not have a bankable India batter who has proven her T20 credentials. They'll have a lot of expectations from Harleen Deol, who is still trying to work on her T20 game. Harleen has aggregated 311 runs in 28 T20Is at a strike rate of 92.01, including a fifty.

Her WPL numbers make for better reading as she has racked up 482 runs at a strike rate of 115.58, including two fifties.

A wicketkeeper short on top‑level experience

UP Warriorz have roped in uncapped Shipra Giri, who is fairly inexperienced. Though she has made her way into the side based on promise, it remains to be seen whether she can deliver under significant duress.

Opportunities

For Meg Lanning, WPL 2026 is more than another season; it’s an opportunity to immortalise her legacy. She has reached three finals as captain, only to fall agonisingly short each time.

Being adjudged the Player of the Tournament (POTM) for guiding India to their maiden World Cup, Deepti Sharma will now want to stamp her authority on the WPL. If Deepti manages to propel Warriorz to the silverware, then it will be the ultimate validation of her credentials as a world-class allrounder.

Threats

A near-total squad rebuild leaves cohesion as UP Warriorz’s biggest concern heading into WPL 2026

Though Lanning is a great leader, she'll have to hope that players settle into their respective roles and execute plans under pressure. In a tournament like WPL, where momentum is everything and early slip‑ups can define a season, this absence of established combinations could become their most damaging vulnerability.