WPL: UP Warriorz aim for turnaround against formidable Delhi Capitals
What's the story
The UP Warriorz are all set to take on the Delhi Capitals in the first reverse fixture of this season's Women's Premier League (WPL).
The Deepti Sharma-led side is currently reeling with no wins to show for in WPL 2025.
Despite individual brilliance like Kiran Navgire's stunning half-century and Sophie Ecclestone's frugal bowling spells, the team is yet to hit its stride.
Here's more.
Team struggles
Inconsistent performances and fielding errors plague UP Warriorz
The UP Warriorz's performance has been marred by inconsistent team selection and batting order.
The absence of a leading bowler, following Saima Thakor's exclusion after just one match, has further compounded their difficulties.
Fielding errors such as misfields and dropped catches have also negatively impacted the team's performance.
Middle-order batters like Grace Harris and Tahlia McGrath have yet to make significant contributions to the team's score.
Opponent's form
Delhi Capitals display strong form ahead of clash
Unlike the UP Warriorz, the Delhi Capitals have been in good form, winning two out of three matches.
Led by Meg Lanning, the team looks settled with the likes of Annabel Sutherland and Marizanne Kapp stepping up in the middle order.
Lanning herself found her groove with a half-century against the Warriorz in their last match.
The team's pace attack has also been on fire, taking 11 wickets in three matches combined.
Team strategy
Delhi Capitals likely to stick with winning combination
The Delhi Capitals are likely to stick with the winning combination for the next match against the UP Warriorz.
This could mean preferring Niki Prasad's lower-order batting over Radha Yadav's left-arm spin.
Meanwhile, McGrath has been underwhelming with scores of 0 and 1 in two matches and an average show with the ball, taking one wicket for 47 runs in 6.5 overs.
Potential changes
UP Warriorz may introduce all-rounder Athapaththu
The UP Warriorz are mulling bringing in all-rounder Chamari Athapaththu for the Bengaluru leg of the tournament.
The move would bolster their batting line-up ahead of her joining the Sri Lanka squad for a white-ball tour of New Zealand.
The probable line-ups for the next match feature powerhouses Meg Lanning and Deepti Sharma leading their sides, with Shafali Verma and Sophie Ecclestone being players to watch out for.
Information
A look at the points table
DC have played three matches, winning two and losing one. They own 4 points with their NRR reading -0.544. On the other hand, the Warriorz have lost both their matches. Their NRR reads -0.495.
Stats
Players in focus
As per ESPNcricinfo, Shafali smashed two fifties in four attempts at a strike rate of 140.6 in the Bengaluru leg of WPL last year.
She has slammed 43, 0, and 26 so far in WPL 2025 and will be keen on converting her starts.
UPW spinner Ecclestone has accounted for three of the seven wickets taken by Warriorz so far.
She has an economy rate of 5.87.