Her wpl

New Delhi: Deandra Dottin has always made headlines for her big-hitting skills complemented by the ability to get big scalps as a seamer. The first-ever centurion in Women’s T20Is will be seen in action in 2026 season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) after UP Warriorz (UPW) secured her services for Rs 80 lakh in last year’s mega auction.

Her WPL 2025 campaign for Gujarat Giants (GG) saw her incisive bowling spells fetching nine wickets at an economy of 8.43 standing out more than her batting returns of 142 runs coming at a strike-rate of 154.35. It didn’t translate in a winning campaign for GG as Deandra tore her patella tendon ligament during warm-ups before the crucial playoff clash and had to sit out to make a total recovery.

Now after turning out in The Hundred and WBBL, Deandra has set her sights firmly on winning the WPL 2026 crown in UPW colours. In an exclusive conversation with IANS, Deandra, despite being jet-lagged and tired, opened up on joining a revamped UPW squad led by Meg Lanning, the prospect of joining forces with fellow power-hitter Kiran Navgire, and the rise of Indian domestic talent via WPL. Excerpts: