LUCKNOW, India — Former India spinner Neetu David has been appointed head of scouting by UP Warriorz ahead of the 2027 Women’s Premier League season, with the franchise bringing one of the country’s most accomplished women cricketers into its recruitment setup.
- Neetu David will take over as UP Warriorz’s head of scouting from Rajib Dutta.
- The former India spinner has 182 international wickets from a 13-year career.
- David holds the record for the best innings bowling figures in Women’s Tests with 8/53.
- Her primary responsibility will be identifying emerging talent from India’s growing domestic women’s cricket system.
Neetu David takes charge of UP Warriorz scouting
David, 48, will become part of the UP Warriorz support staff headed by Abhishek Nayar. Nayar took over as head coach of the franchise last season, and David’s appointment adds considerable experience of Indian women’s cricket to the team’s backroom structure.
She succeeds Rajib Dutta as the franchise’s head of scouting. The role will see David focus on identifying players who could strengthen the UP Warriorz squad as the Women’s Premier League continues to expand the pathway for domestic cricketers.
Neetu David brings extensive international experience
David was one of India’s leading spin bowlers during her international career, which ran from 1995 to 2008. She represented India in 10 Tests and 97 ODIs, collecting 182 wickets across the two formats.
Her most significant Test record came in 1995 against the West Indies in Jamshedpur. David returned figures of 8/53 in that match, a mark that remains the best bowling performance in a single innings in Women’s Tests.
Her long association with Indian cricket has also included an administrative role. David previously served as chairperson of the selection panel for the Indian women’s national team, giving her experience in assessing players beyond the field.
Focus on emerging domestic talent
David’s new assignment comes at a time when the domestic women’s cricket ecosystem is providing an increasingly important talent pool for the WPL. Her scouting responsibilities will involve looking for emerging players who can potentially make the transition to the franchise level.
Her experience as both an international player and former national selector gives her a background in evaluating talent at different stages of development. For UP Warriorz, that expertise could be particularly important as the franchise looks to improve its results in the competition.
UP Warriorz looking to change their WPL fortunes
UP Warriorz have struggled to establish themselves as one of the leading teams since the Women’s Premier League began. Across the first four seasons, the franchise has won 12 of 33 matches, with one additional game ending in a tie.
The team reached the playoffs in the inaugural season but have failed to return to the knockout stage in the following three campaigns. They finished fourth in 2024 before ending each of the subsequent two seasons at the bottom of the table.
The appointment of David therefore comes as part of a wider effort to strengthen the franchise’s talent identification process. Finding players capable of making an impact at WPL level will be a key part of the scouting department’s responsibility ahead of the next season.
What Neetu David’s appointment means for UP Warriorz
For UP Warriorz, the move brings together David’s knowledge of Indian women’s cricket and the franchise’s existing coaching structure under Nayar. Her familiarity with the domestic game could help the team identify players who may otherwise remain outside the immediate WPL spotlight.
With the 2027 season approaching, the scouting department will have an important role in helping UP Warriorz build a stronger squad and address the shortcomings that have contributed to their recent finishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Neetu David?
Neetu David is a former India spinner who represented the national team in 10 Tests and 97 ODIs between 1995 and 2008. She took 182 international wickets.
What is Neetu David’s new role at UP Warriorz?
David has been appointed head of scouting for UP Warriorz ahead of the 2027 Women’s Premier League season. She will replace Rajib Dutta and focus on identifying emerging domestic talent.
What happens next for UP Warriorz?
David will now work with the UP Warriorz support staff as the franchise prepares for the 2027 WPL season. Her scouting experience will be aimed at strengthening the talent pipeline and helping the team build a more competitive squad.
Praveen Yadav is the Founder and Content Creator of The Nation Bulletin, an independent digital news platform focused on delivering timely, reliable and meaningful news from India and around the world.
