Why did WPL franchise release World Cup champion Deepti Sharma?:Coach Abhishek Nayar explains reason behind WC player of the tournament’s fate

The uproar around the non-retention of the ODI World Cup 2025 Player of the Tournament, Deepti Sharma, has finally received an explanation from her WPL franchise, UP Warriorz. Notably, the Indian player, despite her excellent form, was released from the Women’s Premier League (WPL) franchise on 5 November 2025. In the recently concluded Women’s World Cup, Deepti scalped 22 wickets for the Women in Blue, proving to be game-changer for the Indian cricket team and even took a fiver-fer against South Africa in the tournament final. Yet she was not retained for the next season of the WPL, and Abhishek Nayar has opened up about when the franchise made this call. Abhishek Nayar explains why World Cup winner Deepti Sharma was not retained While speaking on the JioStar, UP Warriorz head coach Abhishek Nayar said why World Cup winner Deepti Sharma was not retained in the franchise. “It is always hard when it comes to retentions, when you have so many good players, leaders in their own rights, high-performing players. But I think the thought from the franchise was to go in with a clean slate,” he said. Also Read| Exclusive: Saina Nehwal all but confirms retirement, says ‘very happy with my career’ Eye re-buying Deepti at mega auction- Nayar Further explaining the tough decision of Deepti’s ouster, Nayar explained that it was needed to maximise their purse before the mega auction and even get back the key players that have been released. He said, “Have as much money in the purse as possible to make sure we can not only get the players that we feel can win the Championship, but also get a lot of these players back in the auction.” “It is never easy to make these decisions. The thought process will be to go in with a full purse, try and create the best combination possible, ” the UP Warriorz head coach further added. Deepti Sharma was Player of the Tournament in the ODI World Cup 2025 Notably, Deepti Sharma scored 215 runs and claimed 22 wickets, claiming the Player of the Tournament during India’s ODI World Cup triumph. Even in the final clash with South Africa, she scored a marvellous half-century and a five-wicket haul against South Africa. Also Read| Sunil Chhetri puts full stop on international career: Says, ‘At 42, it’s not easy’ Meanwhile, the UP-based franchise has retained only Shweta Sehrawat from the uncapped Indian category. So they will enter the mega auction with four RTMs from their 2025 roster.