Neetu David appointed UP Warriorz head of scouting ahead of WPL 2027

Neetu David appointed UP Warriorz head of scouting ahead of WPL 2027

Neetu David, the former India spinner, has been appointed as head of scouting for UP Warriorz for the upcoming season of the Women's Premier League. She will take over the role from Rajib Dutta.

The 48-year-old former Railways player will be part of the support staff led by Abhishek Nayar, who took over as the head coach of the franchise last season.

David, arguably India's finest spinner, has featured in 10 Tests and 97 One-Day Internationals. In an international career spanning 13 years – from 1995 to 2008 – David picked up 182 international wickets. She holds the record for the best bowling figures in an innings in Women's Tests, having claimed 8/53 against the West Indies in the 1995 Jamshedpur Test.

David has previously served as the chairperson of the selection panel for the Indian women's national team. In her new role, she will be expected to scout for emerging talent from the evolving domestic women's cricket ecosystem.

UP Warriorz have been the least successful franchises in the four-year history of the Women's Premier League, winning only 12 out of 33 games. After reaching the playoffs in the maiden season, UPW have ended their campaigns in the group stages in each of the next three seasons – finishing at the bottom of the table in the past two seasons, after ending fourth in 2024.