NEW DELHI — In a strategic bid to revamp its talent pipeline, Women’s Premier League (WPL) franchise UP Warriorz announced on Wednesday the appointment of former India spinner and national selector Neetu David as their Head of Scouting ahead of the 2027 season.
David, who previously chaired the BCCI national women's selection committee, recently integrated into the franchise’s setup during an off-season domestic development camp at the Sai Krishnan Grounds in Bengaluru. She joins a refreshed support staff led by newly appointed head coach Abhishek Nayar, alongside mentor Lisa Sthalekar and fielding coach Saurabh Bandekar.
"Thrilled to have the selector of India’s World Cup-winning squad as our Head of Scouting. Welcome to UP Warriorz, Neetu David!" the franchise confirmed via an official statement on X.
A Proven Track Record in Talent Identification
David brings a wealth of administrative expertise and field experience to the Lucknow-based franchise. During her tenure as chairperson of the India women's selection committee, she oversaw the assembly of the squad that secured India's historic ICC Women's ODI World Cup victory.
Prior to her administrative career, David established herself as one of India's premier slow left-arm orthodox spinners. Representing the national side in 10 Tests and 97 ODIs between 1995 and 2008, she accumulated 182 international wickets. She holds the world record for the best bowling figures in a women's Test innings, claiming 8 for 53 against the West Indies at Jamshedpur in 1995.
In her new capacity, David will lead grass-roots talent evaluation across domestic circuits to build a competitive squad for the franchise.
Rebuilding After Four Lean Seasons
The hiring comes at a critical juncture for UP Warriorz, who statistically remain the least successful franchise in WPL history. Across the league's first four editions, the team managed 12 victories out of 33 fixtures.
After an encouraging playoff appearance during the inaugural 2023 season, the franchise suffered successive early exits. They finished fourth in 2024 before placing last on the points table in both the 2025 and 2026 cycles.
By placing a selector with a deep understanding of India's domestic ecosystem at the helm of talent acquisition, the franchise aims to resolve systemic squad imbalances and identify unheralded domestic talent ahead of the 2027 player auctions.