Meg Lanning’s first act as UP Warriorz captain was to send Gujarat Giants in at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai. It is the Women’s Premier League’s opening day game of 2026, the warm afternoon replacing last season’s string of late starts.
“We just fancy knowing what we’re chasing,” Lanning said at the toss, before confirming six bowling options, among them all-rounders Deepti Sharma and the evergreen Deandra Dottin. Phoebe Litchfield and Sophie Ecclestone complete a balanced overseas quartet.
Giants skipper Ashleigh Gardner had no complaints. “Runs on the board can be handy here,” she noted. Gardner’s XI features an all-rounder heavy middle order, and the call to open with Sophie Devine ahead of Danni Wyatt-Hodge should give Beth Mooney a familiar partner. Bharti Fulmali slots in at three, allowing Georgia Wareham to shift down and offer leg-spin insurance.
Spin looks central to Gujarat’s plans. Left-armers Rajeshwari Gayakwad and newcomer Anushka Sharma join Wareham, with Tanuja Kanwar adding variation. Renuka Singh and teenage quick Kashvee Gautam shoulder the new ball.
UPW XI
Meg Lanning (capt), Kiran Navgire, Harleen Deol, Phoebe Litchfield, Shweta Sehrawat (wk), Deepti Sharma, Deandra Dottin, Sophie Ecclestone, Asha Sobhana, Shikha Pandey, Kranti Gaud.
GG XI
Beth Mooney (wk), Sophie Devine, Bharti Fulmali, Ashleigh Gardner (capt), Georgia Wareham, Kanika Ahuja, Anushka Sharma, Kashvee Gautam, Tanuja Kanwar, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh.
Today’s meeting is the first of a double-header. Delhi Capitals face Mumbai Indians under lights, with MI forced into back-to-back outings after Friday’s last-ball defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Early conditions suggest a true surface and a hint of breeze from the harbour end. Chasing sides have enjoyed recent success here, yet the afternoon sun can harden the pitch and make grip tricky for spinners late on. Expect the powerplay to shape the story—both captains have stocked up on new-ball options and boundary strikers, signalling an intent to seize momentum rather than wait for it.
Play is moments away; the WPL’s second season already feels sharper, but match-ups like Lanning v Gardner should keep it grounded in proper contest rather than pure spectacle.
