The second game of WPL 2026 will take place at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai between Gujarat Giants (GG) and UP Warriorz (UPW). After group-stage exits in the first two seasons, GG finally qualified for the playoffs last season under Ashleigh Gardner’s captaincy. However, their journey ended in the eliminator against the Mumbai Indians (MI). Now, once again under Gardner’s guidance, GG will look to go a step further and push for the title this time around.
However, GG have suffered a major blow even before stepping on the field for the new season as Yastika Bhatia has been ruled out of the whole tournament as she is yet to recover fully from her knee injury.
UPW, meanwhile, have had a contrasting journey in the WPL so far. In the inaugural season in 2023, they qualified for the playoffs but were knocked out by MI in the eliminator. In the next two seasons, however, they failed to make it past the group stage. Heading into WPL 2026, UPW are set for a fresh start under new head coach Abhishek Nayar and new captain Meg Lanning.
Despite leading Delhi Capitals (DC) to the final in all three previous editions, Lanning is yet to lift the WPL trophy. Now, with UPW, she will look to finally break that jinx and guide the franchise to their maiden title. Whether this new chapter brings success remains to be seen.
Head-to-Head in WPL
Overall: 6 matches – GG 3, UPW 3
At DY Patil Stadium: 1 match – GG 0, UPW 1
GG record at DY Patil: 3 matches – Won 0, Lost 3
UPW record at DY Patil: 5 matches – Won 2, Lost 3
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Players to watch out for
Gujarat Giants – Ashleigh Gardner
Ashleigh Gardner’s leadership will once again be under the spotlight this season. GG’s qualification for the playoffs in WPL 2025 depended heavily on her all-round brilliance. She scored 243 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of 164.18 and also picked up eight wickets. Her impact with both bat and ball, along with her decisions as captain, will again play a key role in determining GG’s fortunes this season.
UP Warriorz – Phoebe Litchfield
Phoebe Litchfield is already known as one of Australia’s most exciting young batters. However, she is yet to make a strong impact in the WPL. This season could be her breakthrough year. It will be interesting to see where UPW slot her in the batting order—whether as an opener or at number three or four. The franchise might even consider using her as a wicketkeeper-batter. Notably, she had an impressive ODI World Cup in 2025 in India and Sri Lanka, scoring 304 runs in seven innings and finishing as the tournament’s fifth-highest run-scorer.
Probable Playing XIs
GG
Sophie Devine, Beth Mooney (WK), Anushka Sharma, Ashleigh Gardner (C), Kanika Ahuja, Bharti Fulmali, Kashvee Gautam, Georgia Wareham, Renuka Singh Thakur, Titas Sadhu, Rajeshwari Gaikwad
UPW
Meg Lanning (C), Kiran Navgire, Phoebe Litchfield, Shweta Sehrawat, Deepti Sharma, Deandra Dottin, Shipra Giri (WK), Sophie Ecclestone, Shikha Pandey, Kranti Gaud, Asha Sobhana
Also Read: MI vs RCB, WPL 2026: RCB aim for strong start against defending champions MI in season opener
