Kiran Navgire

Kiran Navgire is the 'Powerhouse of Solapur,' a batter whose raw strength and ability to clear the boundary have made her one of the most feared strikers in the game. Born on September 18, 1994, in Maharashtra, she was a decorated track-and-field athlete with over 100 medals in javelin and shot put before she ever picked up a cricket bat professionally. This athletic pedigree translates into a unique, explosive batting style that first stunned the world in 2022 when she became the first Indian (male or female) to score 150+ in a T20 match. Her 2025 season has been nothing short of historic; in October, she smashed the fastest century in the history of women’s T20 cricket, reaching the milestone in just 34 balls for Maharashtra against Punjab. With a staggering strike rate of 302.86 in that innings, she became the first woman to record a T20 ton at a scoring rate of over 300, a feat that headlined a prolific domestic year where she also struck an unbeaten 96 off 42 balls against Mumbai.

In the franchise arena, Navgire remains the designated 'Destructor' for the UP Warriorz. During the 2026 Women’s Premier League mega auction in late 2025, she was at the center of a spirited bidding war between her former side and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Recognizing her value as a domestic power-hitter, the Warriorz exercised their Right to Match (RTM) card to bring her back for ₹60 lakh. Her role in the team has evolved from a middle-order 'finisher' to a formidable opening partner, a position where she famously struck a 31-ball 57 against the Mumbai Indians in previous seasons. As she joins a revamped 2026 squad featuring Meg Lanning and Deandra Dottin, Navgire provides the essential 'X-factor' that can take any game away from the opposition within the powerplay. She enters the new season as a record-breaker and a fan favorite, personifying the 'Warrior' spirit of the Lucknow-based franchise.