UP Warriorz vs Gujarat Giants Highlights, WPL 2026

The Gujarat Giants started the night at the bottom of the ladder, but this win lifts them out of the logjam of teams stuck on four points. Their next fixture sees them take on the Delhi Capitals on 27th January. Meanwhile, it's a longer break for the UP Warriorz, whose next game comes a week later on 29th January, when they face the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. We will have a day's break before the action in the 2026 Women's Premier League resumes on Saturday, 24th January. It will be the Delhi Capitals taking on the Royal Challengers Bengaluru here in Vadodara. RCB have been in imperious form, winning all five of their matches so far, while DC are coming off a much-needed win and will be keen to build on that momentum. The match will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT), with our build-up starting well before that. See you then. Cheers!

Rajeshwari Gayakwad is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for her brilliance with the ball. Gayakwad says that she got an opportunity to play after a long time. Adds that she didn't try to do anything different and kept it simple. Mentions that the rhythm and control were much better in this game and the wicket also helped. Says that whenever she plays against Lanning, she tries to take her wicket. She didn't get in this game but was happy to get Deepti out as people get scared to bring on left-arm spinners against left-handed batters but she likes to bowl to them.

Ashleigh Gardner, captain of the Gujarat Giants, says her side scrapped really well with the bat and carried the momentum from the batting innings into the field. She felt 150 was a defendable total and adds that on wickets like these, being able to take wickets early is all a captain can ask for. Gardner admits she never expected the difference between red-soil and black-soil surfaces to have such a pronounced impact on pace and bounce. She believes hitting straight down the ground is the best option for batters, while for bowlers, the key is to keep hitting the stumps as often as possible. She says they spoke as a team before the game about fighting hard, especially heading into the final few matches. Gardner stresses the importance of doing the right things for longer periods and feels that when teams commit in the field and take their chances, they put themselves in a strong position. Shares that she is delighted for Rajeshwari Gayakwad, saying it was pleasing to see her grab the opportunity with both hands.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

Sophie Devine hands the Orange Cap over to Phoebe Litchfield, and Litchfield, in turn, presents the Purple Cap to Devine. Devine is in for a chat. She says that it was an interesting game of cricket. Adds that once they got over 150, they were always going to be competitive, and when they got a couple of big wickets, they didn't let the pressure off of them. Mentions that it is not an issue for her to bat in the middle as she has played for a long time and knows the dynamics. Says that Rajeshwari Gayakwad played her role very well and stepped up at the right time. Tells that the girls are fully committed and put their everything on the field. Ends by saying that Mooney was excellent behind the stumps, and to have the presence of mind to get her leg out to stop the ball and then rolling off her pads to the stumps was brilliant.

The captain of the UP Warriorz, Meg Lanning, says that both innings took a long time and things were happening. Adds that they got themselves into a good position with the ball but couldn't score the runs and full credit to Gujarat for the way they stuck in, and that's what you need on a surface like this one. Mentions that they had plans for all of their batters, Sophie coming in the middle was also taken care of but she got the runs in the end. Ends by saying that they have some days to rest, but they know that they have to win both games now.

After opting to bowl first, Kranti Gaud set the tone up front for the UP Warriorz. Beth Mooney got herself in but couldn't convert it into a substantial score, and through the middle phase, the Warriorz were able to chip away regularly at the wickets. It eventually required a 'Devine' intervention from Sophie, whose exploits helped the Gujarat Giants reach 153. The Kiwi all-rounder enjoyed a fair share of luck on the night as she was dropped once and later dismissed off a no-ball. Apart from Gaud, Sophie Ecclestone was also miserly in her four overs and picked up a couple of wickets as well.

In pursuit of 154, the Powerplay was decent for UP. At that stage, they were up with the required run rate through Phoebe Litchfield, who looked in good touch, but it all went south once she was dismissed. The spell from Rajeshwari Gayakwad put the game well beyond UPW’s reach. It vindicated the decision to bring her back into the side, as she quickly understood the correct pace to bowl on this pitch and used her flight expertly to close out the game for her side. All five bowling options used by GG picked up at least one wicket, but Gayakwad was the standout performer, finishing with 3 for 16 from her four overs.

A comprehensive win for the Gujarat Giants, one that snaps their three-game losing streak coming into this fixture. It is also the lowest total successfully defended this season. They really do seem to enjoy playing against the UP Warriorz, as this is their fifth straight win over the Warriorz. A strange chase, whether it was the unusual dismissals of the two openers or how dramatically the UP Warriorz fell off the cliff.

OUT! CASTLED! Fittingly, it is Sophie Devine who has the last say in this game. She lands this on a good length and on middle. Kranti Gaud uses her feet and opens her bat face to guide it away but misses it completely and the ball goes through to rattle the stumps. GUJARAT GIANTS WIN BY 45 RUNS!

Pitched up and on middle, Chloe Tryon drills it down to long on and calls for two, but Kranti Gaud is very slow, and they have to settle for one. Not good runnning from Kranti here.

Full again and around off, Kranti Gaud uses her feet and tries to loft it but just slices it in the air and just over extra cover for a run.

WIDE! Fuller but down the leg side, Kranti Gaud misses her flick. Beth Mooney collects it well to her left and breaks the stumps, but Gaud is inside the crease.

Flatter, short and on off, Chloe Tryon stabs it out to the left of the bowler and does not get the run to keep strike. 49 needed in 18 now.

FOUR! Gets it away! Quicker, short and on middle, Chloe Tryon picks up the length early and pulls it away to the vacant deep square leg fence for a much-needed boundary.

Tossed up, full and on off, Chloe Tryon uses her feet but does not get to the pitch of it. She still lofts it and just gets enough elevation to get it over mid off for a couple of more runs. Another check for a short run, but Kranti is fine again. 100 UP FOR UPW!

In the air....SAFE! Slows it up, short and on middle, turns away. Chloe Tryon looks to flick it away but gets a leading edge. It goes high in the air but lands safely wide of deep square leg. Two taken. There is a check for a short run, but Kranti had plonked her bat in before returning for the second.

Short and around off, Chloe Tryon punches it towards mid off.

Kranti Gaud is the last batter.

OUT! SHIKHA PANDEY IS RUN OUT! You just cannot keep Sophie Devine out of this game. Rajeshwari Gayakwad bowls this short and around middle, Chloe Tryon backs away and swats it wide of long on and turns around for the second. However, Shikha Pandey is a bit slow to get back for the second run. Devine quickly runs to her left, picks it up and fires an accurate throw at the bowler's end. Gayakwad collects it on the bounce and breaks the stumps. The replay shows that Pandey is well short of her crease. Gujarat Giants are just one wicket away from the win now.