WPL 2024: Meet MS Dhoni fan Kiran Navgire of UP Warriorz

Alyssa Healy (right) and Kiran Navgire for the UP Warriorz. (Image via X/@wplt20)

Kiran Navgire, the 29-year-old India international is a big-hitting batter who plays for the UP Warriorz in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). She was bought by the Capri Global-owned franchise at her base price of INR 30 lakh in the February 2023 auction. She has made six T20I appearances to date, having made her international debut in 2022 in England. On the domestic circuit, she has represented Maharashtra and Nagaland and played for Pune University at the university level.

What is her WPL batting record like?

In the inaugural edition, Kiran Navgire finished fourth on the Warriorz’s run-scoring list, with 155 runs from eight innings at an average of 19.37. Her highest score in that edition, 53 off 43 deliveries, came against the Gujarat Giants. In WPL 2024 so far, Navgire has made scores of 1, 10, 57 and 12. Her 50 came in at the opening position and helped down the order in defending against championship-contenders Mumbai Indians. She was named Player of the Match for her exploits in that game.

An opening batter who hits the long ball… tell me more.

At the WPL, she had played the role largely of a middle-order batter until the game against Mumbai earlier this week at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. She latched onto the opportunity with both hands and injected some much-needed firepower at the top of the Warriorz order. Her second shot in the opening position came against the Gujarat Giants on Friday.

Up Warriorz got Kiran Navgire at her base price of Rs 30 lakh in the February 2023 WPL player auction. (Image via X/@wplt20)

What does Navgire make of her new batting position?

“I was told the previous day that I would have to open the batting, so I needed to be prepared …” she said after Warriorz’s win over Mumbai. “I open for my team in the domestic season, so it was a chance for me [to put in a good performance]. I just wanted to play according to the merit of the ball, which is attuned to my natural game … If the ball is in my arc, it should be deposited into the stands — that’s my natural thought. I just want to enjoy my batting.”

What's Kiran Navgire's background?

Navgire hails from Mire, a village in the western Indian state of Maharashtra's Solapur district. She has, however, spent much of her recent years living in Pune. Brawny by build, she unwittingly developed a lot of strength working on her family's farm in Solapur as a child and from dabbling in many sports, including javelin throw, shot put and 100-metre sprint, growing up.

Who have been her role models?

A big fan of MS Dhoni, Navgire told ESPNcricinfo in 2022: "I only ever wanted to play cricket because I dreamt of hitting sixes like Dhoni. A lot changed for our country, and me personally, when MS Dhoni hit that six to win the [2011] World Cup."

Since 2020, Navgire’s WhatsApp status has been “Cricket god MSD” followed by three kiss emojis. Her current display picture on the popular messaging app is that of Dhoni in Chennai Super Kings colours, flanked by a trophy and the lion that graces the Super Kings logo.