Who’s Playing:
Delhi Capitals vs UP Warriorz
Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara, 7:30 PM IST
What to Expect: Battle of Middle Orders
While the Delhi Capitals boast the most successful opening combination in the WPL, their middle-order struggles have started to surface. After nearly losing their first match this season and suffering a heavy defeat to RCB, the middle order’s shortcomings have become evident. Their middle-order batters (Nos. 4 to 7) have the lowest average in the WPL at 21.97, with Jess Jonassen (13), Marizanne Kapp (12), and Jemimah Rodrigues (12) having the most innings in these positions.
In contrast, the UP Warriorz have the highest average for these positions (28.44), with Deepti Sharma (14), Grace Harris (14), and Tahlia McGrath (9) as their regulars. This could partly stem from the Warriorz’s use of five different opening pairs over the three seasons.
Team News and Likely XIs:
Delhi Capitals played their full-strength XI in the last game against RCB, and they are expected to stick with a similar lineup, ensuring they have batting depth down to No. 11.
Delhi Capitals (Possible XI):
- Meg Lanning (capt), 2. Shafali Verma, 3. Jemimah Rodrigues, 4. Annabel Sutherland, 5. Marizanne Kapp, 6. Jess Jonassen, 7. Sarah Bryce (wk), 8. Shikha Pandey, 9. Radha Yadav, 10. Arundhati Reddy, 11. Minnu Mani
UP Warriorz may look to bring in Poonam Khemnar to strengthen their lower middle-order firepower, or possibly include Anjali Sarvani for the left-arm seam angle.
UP Warriorz (Possible XI):
- Kiran Navgire, 2. Vrinda Dinesh, 3. Uma Chetry (wk), 4. Deepti Sharma (capt), 5. Tahlia McGrath, 6. Grace Harris, 7. Shweta Sehrawat/Poonam Khemnar, 8. Alana King, 9. Sophie Ecclestone, 10. Saima Thakor, 11. Kranti Goud
KL Rahul Joins Delhi Capitals for ₹14 Crore in IPL 2025 Mega Auction: RCB and KKR Left in the Dust
Players to Watch:
Shikha Pandey – Overlooked by India after the T20 World Cup 2023, Shikha continues to shine in global T20 leagues. In the WPL 2025, she’s been highly economical, holding opponents in check with a solid performance against MI and keeping the run rate under control against RCB, even when the attack was under pressure.
Kiran Navgire – Navgire has a strong affinity for spin, boasting a strike rate of 156.84 against it compared to just 106.50 against pace in WPL. Given her effectiveness against spin, Warriorz may consider moving her into the middle order to capitalize on this strength.
Key Stats:
- Deepti Sharma is one of only four players in the WPL with over 400 runs and 15+ wickets.
- Meg Lanning, the WPL’s leading run-scorer, has been going through a lean patch in T20 cricket, averaging 21.34 since the last WPL.
- Saima Thakor has struggled to find wickets since her ODI best of 3 for 62 against Australia and went wicketless in the Warriorz’s first match.
