WPL 2025: Deepti Sharma Takes Charge as Captain in Match Against UP Warriorz
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Synopsis
In the WPL 2025 match at Kotambi Stadium, Deepti Sharma made her captaincy debut for UP Warriorz. Gujarat Giants won the toss and opted to bowl first. Both teams are eager for their first win of the season.
Key Takeaways
- Deepti Sharma captained UP Warriorz in her debut.
- Ashleigh Gardner led Gujarat Giants, opting to bowl first.
- Gujarat Giants look to recover from their season opener loss.
- New players, including Alana King, debuted for UPW.
- The pitch showed signs of wear with cracks and minimal grass.
Vadodara, Feb 16 (NationPress) Deepti Sharma stepped into her role as captain in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) as Gujarat Giants skipper Ashleigh Gardner won the toss and opted to bowl first against UP Warriorz (UPW) during the tournament's third match held at Kotambi Stadium this Sunday.
After suffering a painful six-wicket defeat in the season opener against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), GG is eager to secure their first points of the season against UPW. Following the coin toss, Ashleigh announced that their playing eleven remains unchanged from their previous match.
“We will bowl first tonight. The dew factor is significant, but I believe it is a challenging ground to defend. Hence, we must take early wickets today. We performed well with the bat in our first game, but we need to be more effective in the field and keep our bowling straightforward,” she mentioned.
On the flip side, Deepti Sharma assumed captaincy for UPW after Alyssa Healy withdrew from the tournament due to injury. She revealed that uncapped India pacer Kranti Goud and Australia leg-spinner Alana King are the new entrants for UPW. Alana joins three other overseas players: Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Ecclestone, and Grace Harris.
“We would have chosen to bowl as well. Our practice sessions and match simulations have been fruitful, and we are excited to play today. Numerous bonding activities during the camps have helped us understand each other's strengths,” she stated.
The pitch for Sunday’s match is newly prepared, featuring square boundaries of 58m and 50m, while the straight boundary measures 70m. The pitch report indicated minimal grass coverage and visible cracks.
Playing XIs
Gujarat Giants: Beth Mooney (wk), Laura Wolvaardt, D Hemalatha, Deandra Dottin, Ashleigh Gardner (captain), Harleen Deol, Simran Shaikh, Tanuja Kanwer, Sayali Satghare, Priya Mishra, Kashvee Gautam.
UP Warriorz: Uma Chetry (wk), Vrinda Dinesh, Shweta Sehrawat, Kiran Navgire, Grace Harris, Deepti Sharma (captain), Tahlia McGrath, Alana King, Sophie Ecclestone, Saima Thakor, Kranti Goud.
