All teams look settled after the TATA WPL Mega Auction and are ready for another season from January 9, 2026. Speaking on JioHotstar, UP Warriorz Head Coach Abhishek Nayar spoke about the acquisition of key players like Deepti Sharma and Sophie Ecclestone, while Mumbai Indians Bowling Coach & Mentor Jhulan Goswami emphasised continuity, smart buys, and Captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s crucial inputs at the auction table.

Speaking on JioHotstar, UP Warriorz Head Coach Abhishek Nayar shared his thoughts on securing Deepti Sharma:

“You rarely get a player who has performed consistently for so many years. Our thought process was simply to see how the auction unfolded. In many ways, our first retention was at ₹3.5 crore, so getting her was essentially a steal for us. Deepti was always a priority. It’s a steal you don’t often see in Indian cricket. We’re always happy to have her back.”

On their most satisfying bid of the auction:

“I think most players went for the numbers we had prepared for. But Sophie Ecclestone was a surprise for us. She’s a marquee player and someone who has delivered for years. I had kept ₹1.8 crore in mind, so getting her at ₹85 lakh was a big surprise. I believe the timing worked in our favour.”

On how effectively their auction plan was executed:

“I think, barring Amelia, whom we missed out on, we managed to sign almost everyone we bid for. Shree Charani was a last-minute choice; she wasn’t originally in our plan. We thought getting Sophie could be tough, and if (Sree) Charani came in alongside her, it would have been ideal since they bowl in different phases. Now that she didn’t come, we’ll reassess.”

Speaking on JioHotstar, Mumbai Indians Bowling Coach & Mentor Jhulan Goswami explained the team’s auction strategy:

“The important thing for us was to retain our strong support group of players. That’s how we’ve won two championships in the last three years. That was the basic plan, nothing more.”

On their key buys this season:

“Amelia Kerr was a great buy. She gives us so much, variation, volume and balance. Over the last three years, she has performed exceptionally well in the tournament, and as an all-rounder, she is very important. Along with her, Shabnim Ismail was another excellent buy. We didn’t expect to get Shabnim at such a low price. So, from a budget perspective, our planning worked well. It was a pleasant surprise because we thought she would go for a much higher amount.”

On Captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s role in the auction:

“As Captain, Harman’s inputs are always crucial during auction planning. At the end of the day, she leads this team and has been incredibly successful. Her inputs have been the most important part of the entire auction process. Our job is to support her on and off the field. Having her at the auction table was a huge advantage, her thoughts mattered deeply, and they helped us retain the core of this team.”