The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 is heating up as the 20th match is set to take place at Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara on February 1, featuring a crucial clash between the Delhi Capitals (DC) and UP Warriorz (UPW). With the playoffs approaching, every strategy is under scrutiny. However, the biggest news before the match was the significant changes to the UP Warriorz lineup, with key players Amy Jones, Chloe Tryon, and Shweta Sehrawat missing from the playing XI.
Reason for the absence of Amy Jones, Chloe Tryon, and Shweta Sehrawat
Jones, Tryon, and Sehrawat are not injured; their exclusion is a strategic bet by the UP Warriorz management. At the toss, skipper Meg Lanning explained that the team aims to bring in “fresh energy” to improve consistency.
In their place, Shipra Giri, Deandra Dottin, and Charli Knott have been introduced. The decision for Jones and Tryon seems based on performance, as neither has delivered strong finishes in recent games. By adding Dottin, known for her aggressive batting style, UPW hopes to improve their Net Run Rate (NRR).
Sehrawat’s absence is also tactical. She has had difficulty finding form, so promoting Giri as wicketkeeper-batter helps balance the overseas player slots. Lanning mentioned, “We want to give people opportunities to see what they’ve got.” The Warriorz recognize that maintaining the same approach isn’t feasible.
The playoff battle between UP Warriorz and Delhi Capitals
The WPL 2026 standings are complicated. While the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have secured a finals spot and the Gujarat Giants (GG) are headed to the Eliminator, the third playoff position is contested by Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians (MI), and UP Warriorz.
- Delhi Capitals: For DC, the path is clear. A victory tonight will bring them to 8 points, allowing them to overtake Mumbai Indians for the third spot. They face a must-win situation, as a loss would leave them with 6 points and a negative NRR, likely pushing them out of contention.
- UP Warriorz: Currently at the bottom with 4 points and a poor NRR of -1.146, the Warriorz not only need to win but also have to achieve a significant margin. They aim to beat Delhi by around 117 runs to improve their NRR over both DC and MI.
- Mumbai Indians: The defending champions find themselves in a watchful position with 6 points and a positive NRR (+0.146). They require a narrow win for the Warriorz. If UPW wins by a small margin, both DC and UPW will remain below MI in NRR, allowing the champions to advance.
Playing XI of both teams
UP Warriorz Women: Meg Lanning (c), Simran Shaikh, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Shipra Giri (wk), Deandra Dottin, Charli Knott, Sophie Ecclestone, Asha Sobhana Joy, Shikha Pandey, Kranti Gaud
Delhi Capitals Women: Shafali Verma, Lizelle Lee (wk), Laura Wolvaardt, Jemimah Rodrigues (c), Marizanne Kapp, Chinelle Henry, Niki Prasad, Sneh Rana, Minnu Mani, Shree Charani, Nandni Sharma
