UP Warriorz Fall Short Against Delhi Capitals in Thrilling WPL 2026 Clash

In a thrilling Women's Premier League 2026 match, UP Warriorz faced a narrow defeat against Delhi Capitals. Captain Meg Lanning praised her bowlers for their efforts, while Jemimah Rodrigues highlighted the team's composure under pressure. Shafali Verma's standout performance earned her the Player of the Match award. The match featured strategic decisions, including Harleen Deol's retirement and the impactful partnership between Lanning and Litchfield. Despite a strong start, UP Warriorz could not secure the win, with Delhi Capitals clinching victory by seven wickets. Read on for a detailed recap of this exciting encounter.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 15, 2026, 00:39 IST

UP Warriorz's Narrow Defeat

In a gripping encounter during the Women's Premier League 2026, the UP Warriorz faced a tough seven-wicket loss to the Delhi Capitals. Captain Meg Lanning commended her bowlers for their commendable performance, which brought the match down to the final ball.

Lanning Discusses Strategic Decisions

During the post-match presentation, Lanning addressed the decision to retire Harleen Deol. She explained that the team aimed to optimize their chances by sending in Chloe Tryon, known for her boundary-hitting ability. Lanning remarked, "The bowlers did a fantastic job to keep us in the game. It was challenging to bat as the pace slowed down. We made decisions based on what was best for the team, and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t." She also noted the strategic choice to replace Dottin with Tryon, highlighting the positives and lessons learned from the match.

Rodrigues Praises Team's Composure

Jemimah Rodrigues expressed pride in her teammates for their composure during the tense match. She specifically praised Shafali Verma for her exceptional bowling performance, stating, "It was a nail-biting finish, but I’m proud of how the girls maintained their calm. Shafali stood out today, contributing significantly with both bat and ball. She is incredibly confident in her bowling skills."

Shafali Verma Reflects on Her Bowling Confidence

After being named Player of the Match, Shafali Verma shared her thoughts on her bowling confidence, attributing it to her experiences in domestic cricket. "I focus on bowling stump to stump and minimizing boundaries. I think like a batter to determine my bowling strategy. Today’s pitch was turning, making it difficult to hit sixes," she explained. She also mentioned her growing partnership with Lee, emphasizing their strategy to support each other.

Match Summary: Delhi Capitals vs UP Warriorz

In the match, UP Warriorz batted first after being put in by Delhi Capitals. Following the early dismissal of Kiran Navgire, a solid partnership between Lanning and Phoebe Litchfield (27 runs off 20 balls) and an 85-run partnership with Harleen Deol (47 runs off 36 balls) helped stabilize the innings. Despite their efforts, UP Warriorz could only manage 154/8 in 20 overs, with Lanning scoring 54 runs off 38 balls, marking her as the third player to reach 1,000 runs in WPL history.

In response, Delhi Capitals started strong with a 94-run opening partnership between Shafali Verma and Lizelle Lee. Verma scored 36 runs off 32 balls, while Lee contributed 67 runs off 44 balls. Although they faced a brief collapse, Laura Wolvaardt's composed 21 runs off 14 balls secured the victory for Delhi Capitals by seven wickets.