WPL 2026 – UP Warriorz Reveal Minimalist Retained Squad - VijayBet

The Women’s Premier League (WPL 2026) is shaping up to be the most unpredictable season yet, and no team represents this landscape better than the UP Warriorz.
While other franchises retained their cores—some keeping up to five players—the Warriorz stunned fans and analysts by retaining just one player ahead of the WPL 2026 mega auction: Shweta Sehrawat.
This bold, almost radical decision has instantly made UP Warriorz the team with the most purse money and the highest number of RTM cards, completely reshaping the upcoming auction dynamics.

According to multiple reports, the Warriorz will enter the 2026 auction with approximately ₹14.5 crore remaining, the largest purse in the league.
And because they retained only one player, the franchise now holds four valuable Right-to-Match (RTM) cards, giving them unmatched tactical flexibility.

But why retain just one player? What does this mean for their future?
Here is the complete Vijaybet 11 strategic deep dive.

Table of Contents

⭐ Official WPL 2026 Retention – UP Warriorz

✔ Retained Player (Only One):

Shweta Sehrawat – India (Uncapped)
Retained at the ₹0.50 crore value bracket.
Her retention marks the franchise’s commitment to grooming young domestic talent.

✔ Purse Remaining for Auction:

₹14.5 crore (the highest among all five teams)

✔ RTM Cards Available:

4 RTM cards (the maximum possible)

This retention outcome tells us one thing loud and clear:
UP Warriorz are preparing for a full rebuild.

🎯 Why Did UP Warriorz Retain Just One Player?

Unlike other franchises, the Warriorz did not hold onto a large core.
This is not an oversight—it is a calculated, long-term reset.

Here are the main reasons behind this unconventional approach.

1️⃣ Full Squad Reconstruction Instead of Patchwork Fixing

While teams like RCB and MI kept proven cores intact, UP Warriorz assessed their previous squad and concluded that incremental tweaks would not be enough.

Reports show they chose to retain only Shweta Sehrawat and release the rest to maximize auction power.

This approach suggests:

They want a fresh team identity
They prefer building a new lineup rather than sticking with inconsistent results
They will target specialists at every position
They aim to reset leadership, strategy, and bench strength

In short:
UPW are choosing revolution over evolution.

2️⃣ Keeping RTM Cards Is More Valuable Than Keeping Extra Players

The WPL retention rules reward teams that retain fewer players.
Since UPW retained just one, they received four RTM cards, the highest possible.

RTM cards allow the team to:

Match the highest bid for their former players
Regain key squad members at the right price
Prevent rival teams from stealing strategic assets
Maintain flexibility during tense bidding wars

In many cases, an RTM card is more valuable than pre-retaining a player, because:

It lets the market decide the player’s value
The team avoids overpaying
They can still bring players back if needed

UP Warriorz clearly understand this advantage.

3️⃣ A Big Purse Gives Them Auction Dominance

UP Warriorz enter the WPL 2026 auction with ₹14.5 crore, significantly higher than every other franchise.
This gives them the ability to:

Outbid teams on high-impact players
Bring in multiple overseas stars
Fill every role with top-tier options
Completely reshape their bowling unit
Build a new middle-order engine

With this kind of purse size, UPW will be the most aggressive buyer in the 2026 auction room.

⭐ What This Means for WPL 2026 – Vijaybet 11 Breakdown

UP Warriorz’s retention strategy dramatically shifts the balance of the league.
Here’s why their approach could actually be brilliant.

1️⃣ They Become the Biggest Auction Influencer

With the highest purse + most RTMs, UPW can:

Dictate bidding intensity
Force other teams to overspend
Block rivals from strengthening certain areas
Create domino effects in team building

This is auction power at its peak.

2️⃣ They Can Rebuild the Entire Team Around a New Core

Instead of forcing their squad to fit an old identity, they now have freedom to:

Sign a new captain
Build a fresh overseas combination
Strengthen death bowling (their past weakness)
Introduce new Indian domestic talents
Bring back former players only if needed

This is the WPL equivalent of a total franchise reset—something that can pay off massively if done right.

3️⃣ Shweta Sehrawat Is Their Long-Term Investment

Retaining Sehrawat alone shows a clear direction.
She is:

Young
Fast-improving
Fearless
A strong domestic asset
Future leadership material

UP Warriorz appear to be building a new “youth-first” identity.

🔥 Who UP Warriorz Might Target in the Auction

Based on their purse strength and squad requirements, Vijaybet 11 predicts that UPW will aggressively chase several high-impact profiles in the WPL 2026 mega auction:

✔ A world-class captain
(Preferably a Meg Lanning–type leader who brings stability, clarity, and big-match temperament)

✔ A power-hitting overseas opener
(Someone who can dominate the Powerplay and set the tone early)

✔ A specialist for the death overs
(A reliable pacer or spinner who can control the 17th–20th overs)

✔ A strike spinner
(An attacking option capable of breaking partnerships in the middle overs)

✔ A stable middle-order engine
(A batter who can rebuild after early wickets or accelerate when needed)

✔ A finisher in the Grace Harris mould
(Explosive, fearless, capable of turning games in the last five overs)

✔ 1–2 domestic rising stars
(Future-proofing the squad with young Indian talent)

With the biggest purse and the maximum RTM cards, expect UP Warriorz to be the most aggressive and competitive bidder for nearly every top-tier name in the WPL 2026 auction.

🚀 For live auction predictions, player breakdowns, and real-time WPL insights, make sure to follow Vijaybet 11 — your trusted source for everything WPL 2026.