The second match of the Women's Premier League 2026 season presents a fascinating clash of teams in transition, as the UP Warriorz, under new captain Meg Lanning, take on the Gujarat Giants, led by Ashleigh Gardner. The encounter is scheduled for Saturday at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai, with both franchises aiming to start their campaign with a victory and set the tone for their title aspirations.
A New Era for UP Warriorz Under Meg Lanning
The UP Warriorz enter the fourth season of the WPL hoping for a significant turnaround. Their fortunes have declined over the first three editions, finishing third, fourth, and then at the bottom of the table. To arrest this slide, the franchise has entrusted leadership to the legendary Meg Lanning. The former Australian captain, who steered Delhi Capitals to three consecutive finals, is expected to bring much-needed structure and composure to a side that appeared disjointed last season, especially during regular skipper Alyssa Healy's absence.
Despite Lanning's proven leadership, the Warriorz have clear areas to address. The wicketkeeping slot is a primary concern, with Shipra Giri being the only specialist keeper in the squad. The batting order will likely see the versatile Phoebe Litchfield opening alongside the hard-hitting Kiran Navgire. The core responsibility of building the innings will rest on the experienced shoulders of Lanning and Harleen Deol in the middle order.
Gujarat Giants Build on Playoff Momentum
In contrast, the Gujarat Giants approach the new season with positive momentum, having reached the playoffs in the previous edition after two underwhelming campaigns. Captained by the dynamic all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner, the Giants boast a powerful overseas contingent but are still searching for a settled Indian batting core to provide stability.
Beth Mooney is set to don the wicketkeeping gloves and open the batting, offering reliability at the top. A major boost for the Giants is the return of the explosive Sophie Devine, who missed the entire 2025 season. Her presence adds immense firepower and experience to the lineup.
Bowling Strengths of Both Sides
The Warriorz's most potent weapon is their well-rounded bowling attack. They possess a world-class spin duo in Sophie Ecclestone and Deepti Sharma. This combination is adept at controlling the game through the middle overs. They are complemented by the experience of seamer Shikha Pandey and the pace of Kranti Goud, giving the team excellent options for both the powerplay and death overs.
The Giants' bowling is equally formidable. The pace unit will be spearheaded by India's Renuka Singh Thakur, with Kim Garth and young talent Kashvee Gautam providing strong support. Spin is a deep resource for Gujarat, with captain Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, and Tanuja Kanwar offering multiple tactical choices based on the match conditions.
With both teams undergoing strategic shifts and eager to make an early statement, this opening fixture promises to be a compelling contest that could shape the early narrative of WPL 2026.
UP Warriorz Squad: Meg Lanning (C), Shweta Sehrawat, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, Phoebe Litchfield, Kiran Navgire, Harleen Deol, Kranti Goud, Asha Sobhana, Deandra Dottin, Shikha Pandey, Shipra Giri, Simran Shaikh, Charli Knott, Chloe Tryon, Suman Meena, G Trisha, Pratika Rawa.
Gujarat Giants Squad: Ashleigh Gardner (C), Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine, Renuka Singh Thakur, Bharti Fulmali, Titas Sadhu, Kashvee Gautam, Kanika Ahuja, Tanuja Kanwer, Georgia Wareham, Anushka Sharma, Happy Kumari, Kim Garth, Shivani Singh, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Ayushi Soni.
