Former India spinner Neetu David has been appointed as the head of scouting for UP Warriorz ahead of the upcoming season of the Women's Premier League (WPL). The 48-year-old takes over the role from Rajib Dutta and joins the support staff led by head coach Abhishek Nayar, who took charge of the franchise last season.

David, widely regarded as arguably India's finest spinner, enjoyed an illustrious international career that spanned 13 years from 1995 to 2008. She featured in 10 Tests and 97 One-Day Internationals, claiming 182 international wickets. She also 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.

Beyond her playing career, David has previously served as the chairperson of the selection panel for the Indian women's national team, bringing a wealth of cricketing expertise and an eye for talent identification to her new role at UP Warriorz.

A Crucial Appointment for a Struggling Franchise

The appointment comes at a critical juncture for UP Warriorz, who have been the least successful franchise in the four-year history of the Women's Premier League. The team has won only 12 out of 33 games, including one tied match.

After reaching the playoffs in the inaugural season, UPW's fortunes have declined sharply. They have ended their campaigns in the group stages in each of the subsequent three seasons, finishing at the bottom of the table in the past two editions after ending fourth in 2024.

In her new role, David will be expected to scout for emerging talent from the evolving domestic women's cricket ecosystem, a task that could prove pivotal in helping the franchise rebuild and compete more effectively in the seasons to come.