UP Warriorz announce Australia's Alyssa Healy as captain for WPL 2023

image-lefg9ahyAlyssa Healy during the ongoing T20 World Cup \

In a major turn of events, Women Premier League (WPL)'s franchise UP Warriorz have appointed Australian megastar Alyssa Healy as captain for the inaugural edition of the league.

The wicketkeeper cum opener, who is currently in South Africa representing Australia in the Women's T20 World Cup 2023, was acquired by the UP team for INR 70 lakhs. 

Meanwhile, she has no experience in captaincy in leading a franchise in the Big Bash League; however, she led Australian women's in their recent tour to India where the five-time T20 World Champions outclassed the Women in  Blue by a 4-1 margin.

However, this decision made by the WPL franchise can also be looked at in bad light as they have gone with a foriegn captain over the likes of Indian star all-rounder Deepti Sharma and Adelaide Strikers' captain Tahlia McGrath.

The Warriorz are the only WPL franchise after Royal Challengers Bangalore to name a skipper for the much-anticipated women’s T20 competition. Earlier in the week, Smriti Mandhana was handed the reigns of the Bangalore-based franchise.

Healy is going through a brilliant run of form in the ICC event, where she is the highest run-getter for Australia and the second-highest overall. 

She may have been struggling with her fitness - missing a T20I against India in Mumbai, the home series against Pakistan and the T20 World Cup clash against South Africa. However, she will be up and running for the semifinal fixture against Harmanpreet Kaur-led India.

UP Warriorz’s Squad: Alyssa Healy (captain), Deepti Sharma, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Ecclestone, Shabnim Ismail, Anjali Sarvani, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Shweta Sehrawat, Parshavi Chopra, S. Yashasri, Kiran Navgire, Devika Vaidya, Grace Harris, Lauren Bell, Laxmi Yadav, Simran Shaikh.

The first-ever edition of the WPL will begin on March 4, with Gujarat Giants and Mumbai Indians playing the curtain-raiser.