UP Warriorz vs Delhi Capitals Highlights, WPL 2026: Delhi Capitals Secure First Win

That brings the curtain down for this match! So Delhi Capitals have got their first win in Women's Premier League 2026 and it's UP Warriorz who will continue with the losing streak. Although there won't be any changes on the points table, as the Capitals will stay in the fourth position. Up next in WPL 2026, UP Warriorz will get no rest as they will face the defending champions, Mumbai Indians, tomorrow on 15 January, Thursday, at 7.30 pm IST (2.00 pm GMT). Don't forget to tune in early for all the pre-match build-up. Until then, stay safe and goodbye!

Shafali Verma is the Player of the Match for scoring 36 runs and also picking two wickets. She exudes confidence in her bowling, attributing it to her success in high-pressure situations like the World Cup final. She acknowledges that defending 200 as a batter can be tough, but she's focused on cutting out boundaries and using her knowledge of her own hitting style to polish her bowling decisions. Shafali mentions that she works on her sweeps, including the reverse sweep, in the nets and isn't too concerned about getting dismissed on that shot. She's committed to bringing more shots and adapting to different wickets. Shafali also highlights her experience batting with Meg Lanning, saying that Lanning knows her well. She's now enjoying her partnership with Lizelle Lee, happily rotating the strike with her partner, who's hitting well. She ended up saying that she believes that tonight's win will give her team a significant confidence boost moving forward.

Jemimah Rodrigues, the winning skipper of Delhi Capitals, expresses her happiness with the result, praising her team's calm demeanor despite the nail-biting finish. She attributes the win to the team's composure, noting that the dugout remained calm throughout the chase. Jemimah commends Kapp and the others for finishing the game off brilliantly after she lost her wicket with seven runs needed. She reflects on the bowling performance, highlighting Sneh's crucial first-ball wicket that helped shift momentum in their favor. While acknowledging the good performances from the opposing team's Meg and Harleen, Jemimah is pleased with her bowlers' overall performance. She singles out Shafali as a standout, praising her ability to contribute in various ways and her confidence on the field. Jemimah dispels the notion that Shafali was her last bowling option, instead highlighting Shafali's willingness to bowl and her trustworthiness as a bowler. She commends phenomenal performance and notes that her confidence and attitude make a significant difference to the team.

Time for the Presentation Ceremony...

Lizelle Lee of Delhi Capitals started off explaining the circumstances surrounding her dismissal, citing a miscommunication due to a language barrier. She thought she was going to be retired out after the over, which led to her making a decision to swing at the ball without fully understanding the situation. Despite the confusion, Lee praises her team for their excellent performance and for getting the win. Lee is full of praise for her batting partner Shafali Verma, saying she's been striking the ball extremely well and deserves the runs she's been scoring. Lee notes that the ball travels very quickly off Shafali's bat, and she's happy to see her get the recognition she deserves after putting in hard work. Lee is impressed with the bowling performance, particularly the first over, and praises the bowler for doing an outstanding job. She mentions that some deliveries surprised her and hit her hands hard, highlighting the bowler's skill. Lee has been enjoying her wicketkeeping experience, noting that she's had to step up with the quieter crowd. She credits her time in the Big Bash for helping her trust her hands more behind the stumps, and feels like things have been going really well. Reflecting on her batting form, Lee admits that she hasn't been feeling entirely confident, with many shots coming off timing rather than clean striking. However, she's not overly concerned, as the team's strong performance and support make her happy, and she's looking forward to improving her timing in the next game.

Skipper of UP Warriorz, Meg Lanning, started off by praising her team's bowlers for their excellent effort in pulling the game back and taking it down to the final ball. She notes that batting first became increasingly difficult as the pace was taken off the ball, but the team managed to stay in the game with their bowling. She says that she is pleased with her own contribution, getting a few runs and putting something on the board for the team. She expresses her desire to have batted longer but acknowledges the importance of contributing to the team. Regarding Deol's retirement, Lanning explains that it was a deliberate decision to maximize the death overs, as they felt Deol was getting stuck towards the end. Lanning also clarifies that Deandra Dottin's absence was a tactical decision, with Chloe Tryon brought in for a specific match-up against one of Delhi's batters. She is pleased with Tryon's performance and feels that it was the right balance for the team. Looking ahead, Lanning notes that there isn't much time to dwell on the loss, and the team will focus on the positives and areas for improvement. She's confident that the team can build on the way they finished the game and is excited for the upcoming match against the Mumbai Indians, who have world-class players.

Earlier, in an innings that saw a captivating shift in momentum, the Delhi Capitals absorbed early pressure from the UP Warriorz to ultimately seize control by the end of the innings. Despite a strong start from the Warriorz, featuring a half-century from Meg Lanning and a dangerous partnership with Harleen Deol, their innings unravelled dramatically in the death overs. A disciplined bowling effort by DC, notably from an unexpected source in Shafali Verma, triggered a collapse that saw the Warriorz lose six wickets for just 24 runs in the final five overs, finishing at a competitive but not commanding 154/8. This late choke had swung the momentum firmly in favour of the Delhi Capitals for the chase.

Following the departure of the openers, Laura Wolvaardt and Jemimah Rodrigues stepped in to ensure there would be no late-inning stutters to steer the Capitals within sight of the finish line. Wolvaardt’s technical precision complemented the aggressive style of the previous batters, and when Lee’s magnificent knock eventually came to an end, Jemimah Rodrigues joined the fray. Together, Wolvaardt and Rodrigues stitched together a sensible and polished partnership, navigating the closing stages of the match with composure. Just when it all looked uphill for DC, Jemimah Rodrigues departed, and it set up a last-over finish which Delhi Capitals eventually pulled off on the last ball. By crossing the line with seven wickets in hand, the Delhi Capitals not only secured their first victory of the season but also sent a strong message to the rest of the league regarding their batting depth and resilience.

Lizelle Lee was the undisputed star of the show, delivering a phenomenal performance that saw her top score with 67. Looking at her absolute lethal best, Lee dominated the crease with a combination of brute force and tactical boundary-finding, leaving the bowlers with little room for error. She was expertly supported by Shafali Verma, who played a crucial role in the initial onslaught by contributing a steady 36. Lee's ability to find the ropes early in the innings kept the required run rate well under control and allowed Verma to play with some freedom and take her time. Their partnership set a platform so solid that even when the first wicket finally fell, the momentum remained firmly and irreversibly in Delhi's favor.

The Delhi Capitals have officially opened their account in the tournament, securing two crucial points with a commanding seven-wicket victory over the UP Warriorz. Chasing a target of 155, Delhi’s pursuit was defined by a masterclass in aggressive opening play, as the top order systematically dismantled the Warriorz' bowling attack from the very first over. The foundation of this emphatic win was laid by a blistering 94-run opening stand that effectively took the game away from the opposition. While the Warriorz hoped for early breakthroughs to defend their competitive total, they found no answer for the sheer intent displayed by the Capitals' batters, who turned what could have been a tricky chase into a showcase of clinical power-hitting.