The first double-header of the WPL 2026 season kicks off with a fascinating contest between two sides eager to establish early dominance. The Gujarat Giants (GG), who finally broke their playoff jinx last season by finishing third, come into this edition with a settled core and renewed confidence under Ashleigh Gardner.
On the other side, the UP Warriorz (UPW) are arguably the most transformed side of the auction. After finishing at the bottom of the table last year, they have hit the reset button in spectacular fashion, bringing in the legendary Meg Lanning to steer the ship. This match isn’t just about points; it’s a battle between Gujarat’s stability and UP’s star-studded overhaul.
Team combinations
The Giants have finally found a formula that works. Retaining Gardner as captain and Beth Mooney at the top provides them with a world-class spine. The addition of Sophie Devine adds immense power to the top order, potentially pairing with Mooney or Danni Wyatt-Hodge. The arrival of Renuka Singh gives them the swing threat they lacked, complementing the spin mastery of Gardner, Georgia Wareham, and Tanuja Kanwer. How they utilize Ashleigh Gardner with the bat. Often floating in the order, her stability at No. 4 will be crucial against UP’s spinners.
All eyes will be on Lanning. The former Delhi Capitals skipper has moved to UPW to lead a revival. The Warriorz broke the bank to re-sign Deepti Sharma (₹3.2 CR) and brought in explosive talents like Deandra Dottin and Phoebe Litchfield (poached from Gujarat). A powerhouse middle order. A batting lineup featuring Lanning, Litchfield, Dottin, and Kiran Navgire is terrifying on paper. Sophie Ecclestone remains the best spinner in the world, and her partnership with Deepti Sharma on the DY Patil surface could be the deciding factor.
GG-W vs UP-W, WPL 2026: Match details
- Date and Time: January 10; 03:30 pm IST/ 10:00 am GMT
- Venue: DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai
GG-W vs UP-W, Head-to-Head Record in WPL
Matches played: 6 | Gujarat Giants won: 3 | UP Warriroz won: 3 | No result: 0
Also READ: WPL 2026 Opening Ceremony: Date, Time, Performers and Live Streaming details
Dr DY Patil Sports Academy Pitch Report
The surface at the DY Patil Academy is traditionally a batter’s paradise. It offers good bounce and the ball comes onto the bat nicely, allowing for stroke-making through the line. Being an afternoon game, dew won’t be a major factor, but the heat might be. Expect the captain winning the toss to bowl first, looking to restrict the opposition to under 160 and chase it down on a track that gets better for batting.
Squads:
Gujarat Giants: Ashleigh Gardner (c), Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine, Renuka Singh Thakur, Bharti Fulmali, Titas Sadhu, Kashee Gautam, Kanika Ahuja, Tanuja Kanwer, Georgia Wareham, Anushka Sharma, Happy Kumari, Kim Garth, Yastika Bhatia, Shivani Singh, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Ayushi Soni
UP Warriorz: 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, Chloe Tryon, Suman Meena, G. Trisha, Pratika Rawal, Charli Knott
GG-W vs UP-W, WPL 2026: Today’s Match Prediction
Case 1:
- Gujarat Giants Women wins the toss and bowl first
- UP Warriorz Bengaluru Women’s powerplay score: 45-55
- UP Warriorz Bengaluru Women’s total score: 140-150
Case 2:
- UP Warriorz Bengaluru Women wins the toss and bowl first
- Gujarat Giants Women’s powerplay score: 50-60
- Gujarat Giants Women’s total score: 155-165
Match result: Team bowling first to win the match.
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
