Match preview: Delhi Capitals Women vs UP Warriorz Women
Delhi Capitals Women (DC-W) meet UP Warriorz Women (UPW-W) in the 7th game of the Women’s Premier League at DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai on Tuesday, 14 January 2025. The toss is scheduled around 7:30 p.m. IST and both sides will be desperate to open their accounts after disappointing starts to the campaign.
When and where
- Date & time: 14 January 2025, 7:30 p.m. IST
- Venue: DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai
- Broadcast: Star Sports Network; live streaming on JioHotstar
Form guide
Delhi Capitals Women, three-time WPL runners-up, have been below expectations so far. A change in leadership has not yet paid off and they head into this fixture having lost their first two games — extending a losing run to four matches across competitions. Their chase of 210 against Gujarat Giants went down to the wire, finishing at 206 despite half-centuries from Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt.
UP Warriorz also need a spark. After a solid-looking 143 thanks to Deepti Sharma and Deandra Dottin, their bowlers were unable to contain Royal Challengers Bengaluru and the Warriors were beaten by nine wickets. The bowling unit will need to regroup quickly if they are to climb off the foot of the table.
Pitch report
DY Patil usually offers a balanced surface. Early seam movement is possible, especially with any undercurrent of humidity. Once batters get their eye in, scoring becomes easier because the outfield is quick. Spinners can make an impact in the middle overs, so teams will be mindful of building partnerships before the spin tightens up. A competitive total is around 170–180.
Weather
Expect clear skies with a humid feel and temperatures between roughly 19–25°C. No rain is forecast, but a cool breeze could be noticeable during the evening session.
Head-to-head
- Matches played (T20): 5
- Delhi Capitals Women wins: 3
- UP Warriorz Women wins: 2
Historically, Delhi have had the edge in recent encounters, but the margin is small — this fixture could easily swing either way.
Probable XIs
Delhi Capitals Women (likely)
- Shafali Verma
- Lizelle Lee (wk)
- Laura Wolvaardt
- Jemimah Rodrigues (c)
- Marizanne Kapp
- Niki Prasad
- Chinelle Henry
- Sneh Rana
- Minnu Mani
- Shree Charani
- Nandani Sharma
UP Warriorz Women (likely)
- Meg Lanning (c)
- Kiran Navgire
- Phoebe Litchfield
- Harleen Deol
- Deepti Sharma
- Deandra Dottin
- Shweta Sehrawat (wk)
- Asha Sobhana
- Sophie Ecclestone
- Shikha Pandey
- Kranti Gaud
Players to watch
- Nandani Sharma (DC-W) – The 24-year-old pacer has been terrific recently and is DC-W’s most consistent wicket-taker. Her ability to hit the deck hard and use the surface to extract seam movement makes her a genuine threat in the middle overs.
- Lizelle Lee (DC-W) – Lee rediscovered her touch in the previous game with an 86-run blitz. Her aggressive opening approach gives Delhi quick momentum and she can single-handedly change the contest at the top.
- Phoebe Litchfield (UPW-W) – Capable of rapid scoring and clever strike rotation, Litchfield showed what she can do with a 78 earlier in the tournament. If she finds form again, UPW’s chase or start will look far more comfortable.
Toss and strategy
Teams winning the toss at DY Patil have tended to bowl first in recent women’s T20s, and data shows teams chasing here have had the advantage. With a generally fast outfield and a pitch that eases out for batters, many captains prefer to see a target on the board and chase under lights. Expect the toss-winning skipper to seriously consider bowling first.
Match scenarios
Scenario 1 (DC-W bowl first)
- Power-play: DC-W look to stem early runs and pick up a wicket or two (40–45 expected for the power-play).
- UPW-W total projection: 140–160
- Likely outcome: Delhi chase and edge the contest if their top order fires.
Scenario 2 (UPW-W bowl first)
- Power-play: UPW-W aim to apply pressure upfront and prevent a fast start (expected 42–52 for DC in power-play if batting).
- DC-W total projection: 150–170
- Likely outcome: If DC post a competitive score, UPW will need strong batting contributions to chase; the match could tilt in UPW’s favour if their bowling clicks early.
Who is likely to win?
Delhi Capitals Women enter as slight favourites given their head-to-head advantage and the firepower at the top of their order. However, both teams are searching for their first win and form can flip quickly in T20 cricket. The match may well be decided by which bowling unit executes plans better in the middle overs and which side handles the pressure of getting off the mark in this WPL season.
Expect a competitive evening at DY Patil — a tight finish is well within the realms of possibility.