After suffering a defeat in their last match against Mumbai Indians, UP Warriorz will be aiming to make a strong comeback when they face Royal Challengers Bangalore on March 15 at DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. Bangalore, on the other hand, are yet to register a win in the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League and will be determined to secure a victory, but UP Warriorz won’t make it easy for them.
In their previous encounter, UP Warriorz completely dominated Bangalore, winning the match by 10 wickets. Therefore, they will be hoping for a similar outcome in this match as well. However, some players in the team are yet to perform up to their potential in the league, which could result in them being dropped from the playing XI. It remains to be seen if UP Warriorz will make any strategic changes for this match.
Based on our analysis and current form, we predict the following players to be part of UP Warriorz’ playing XI against Royal Challengers Bangalore:
- Alyssa Healy (c & wk)
- Devika Vaidya
Please note that this is just a prediction and the actual playing XI may differ based on the team’s strategy and conditions on the day of the match.
After Shweta Sehrawat failed to perform consistently as an opener, Devika Vaidya was promoted up in the batting order and has been performing well ever since. With Alyssa Healy playing an aggressive style of cricket, UP needed someone who could rotate the strike at the top of the order and Devika has been fulfilling that role perfectly.
Healy, on the other hand, has been in great form and has scored 185 runs in four matches, making her the third-highest run-scorer of the tournament. In the last game against RCB, the 32-year-old played superb innings, scoring an unbeaten 96 runs off just 47 deliveries. If she can repeat her heroics in the upcoming match, UP could very well hand Smriti Mandhana-led RCB their sixth-season defeat and end their chances of qualifying for the playoffs.
The middle order of UP Warriorz is expected to consist of the following players:
- Kiran Navgire
- Simran Sheikh
- Shweta Sehrawat
After Shweta Sehrawat struggled to perform consistently as an opener, Devika Vaidya was moved up the batting order and has performed well ever since. With Alyssa Healy playing an aggressive style of cricket, UP needed someone who could rotate the strike at the top of the order, and Devika fulfilled that role perfectly.
Alyssa Healy has been in superb form, scoring 185 runs in just four matches, making her the third-highest run-scorer of the tournament so far. In the last match against RCB, she played a stunning knock of 96* off just 47 deliveries, wreaking havoc on the opposition bowlers. If she can repeat her heroics, UP Warriorz have a good chance of defeating the Smriti Mandhana-led side, who are yet to win a game in the tournament and ending their hopes of qualifying for the playoffs.
The middle order of UP Warriorz is expected to consist of the following players:
- Kiran Navgire
- Simran Sheikh
- Shweta Sehrawat
Kiran Navgire, who usually bats at number three, had an impressive performance in the opening game against Gujarat Giants. However, she hasn’t been able to replicate her success in the subsequent matches. In four matches so far, the 28-year-old has only managed to score 72 runs, which is not up to her potential. As a key player in the team, Kiran needs to step up and improve her performance, especially since the tournament is heading toward its business end.
Simran Sheikh is another player who hasn’t been able to make a significant impact in the middle order. In four matches, she has only scored 33 runs at an average of 11. Simran is known for her hard-hitting abilities, and the team management will be hoping that she can unleash her power-hitting in the upcoming matches.
Shweta Sehrawat, who opened the batting in the initial matches, failed to prove herself as a dependable opener and was subsequently dropped from the opening slot. She will now bat in the middle order, and the team will be looking for her to make useful contributions in the upcoming matches.
Kiran Navgire showed her potential in the first match of the tournament by scoring runs against Gujarat Giants, but she has struggled to perform in the middle order since then. With only 72 runs in four matches, the 28-year-old needs to improve her performance. Kiran is a crucial part of the team and her contribution will be vital as the tournament enters its crucial phase.
Simran Sheikh, who has been promoted up the batting order, has not had much opportunity to spend time in the middle. She has played three innings so far, scoring 15 runs and remaining unbeaten on two occasions. It is important for UP to ensure that she gets enough opportunities, as the team can be exposed if the top order fails to perform. Simran is a talented player, and with more chances, she can prove to be a valuable asset for UP in the upcoming matches.
Shweta Sehrawat’s current form is a cause for concern as she has not been able to prove herself as a dependable opener. As a result, she was demoted in the batting order, and in the last match, she played at number eight, behind Sophie Ecclestone and Deepti Sharma. If she fails to perform again, the 19-year-old U19 World Cup winner may soon get dropped from the playing XI.
The middle order of UP Warriorz consists of Kiran Navgire, Simran Sheikh, and Shweta Sehrawat. Kiran Navgire, who bats at number three, had an impressive start to the tournament in the opening game against Gujarat Giants but has failed to make an impact in the following matches. She has only scored 72 runs in four matches and needs to improve her performance. Simran Sheikh has been promoted up the order but hasn’t had much time to spend at the crease, scoring only 15 runs in three innings so far. Shweta Sehrawat, who failed to perform as an opener, has been demoted to the middle order and is struggling for form. She played at number eight in the last match and may be dropped from the playing XI if she fails to perform once again.
Kiran Navgire started well in the opening match at number three, impressing everyone with her performance against Gujarat Giants. However, since then, she hasn’t been able to prove herself in the middle. She has only managed to score 72 runs in four matches and needs to improve. As the tournament progresses towards its business end, Kiran is an important part of the squad and the team needs her to step up.
Simran Sheikh has been promoted in the batting order, but she hasn’t had enough time to spend in the middle. In three innings, the 21-year-old has scored 15 runs and remained unbeaten on two occasions. It is important for UP to provide her with enough opportunities as the team can be exposed if the top order fails to perform.
Shweta Sehrawat’s performance has been concerning lately. After failing to establish herself as a reliable opener, she was moved down in the batting order. In the last match, she batted at number eight, behind Sophie Ecclestone and Deepti Sharma. If Shweta continues to struggle with her form, the 19-year-old U19 World Cup winner may face the possibility of being dropped from the playing XI.
Moving on to the all-rounders, UP has two key players in Tahlia McGrath and Deepti Sharma.
Tahlia McGrath has been a valuable addition to the squad, scoring 100 runs and picking up six wickets in four matches. The 25-year-old Australian has proved to be a crucial player for UP, contributing with both bat and ball. McGrath’s all-round ability makes her a vital cog in the team’s wheel and the management will be expecting her to continue her good form.
Deepti Sharma, on the other hand, has been impressed with her spin bowling. The 23-year-old has picked up six wickets in four matches and has been economical as well. However, her batting has been a bit of a concern as she has only scored 29 runs so far. UP will be hoping that Deepti can regain her form with the bat and contribute more to the team’s cause in the upcoming matches.
Tahlia McGrath, the Australian international, is in excellent form in the ongoing Women’s Premier League (WPL). She has scored 140 runs in four matches so far, with a strike rate of 159.09, and is currently the eighth-highest run-scorer in the tournament. However, her bowling hasn’t been at its best, but she has the ability to bounce back and take wickets in the middle overs.
Deepti Sharma, the 25-year-old all-rounder, has performed well in patches but has the potential to do better. She has taken five wickets and scored only 30 runs in four matches so far. Therefore, there is a lot of room for improvement, and it is high time that the vice-captain steps up, as the team desperately needs someone who can take responsibility in the middle order along with McGrath.
Sophie Ecclestone, the 22-year-old England left-arm spinner, is one of the best bowlers in the world and has shown her skills in the ongoing WPL as well. In four matches so far, she has picked up five wickets with an economy rate of 5.25. Her ability to restrict the opposition in the middle overs makes her a key player for the UP team.
South African pace bowler Shabnim Ismail, 33, has been expensive in the tournament so far, with an economy rate of 9.33 in three matches. However, she has picked up four wickets as well, and her experience can be invaluable for the team.
Anjali Sarvani, the 22-year-old Indian leg-spinner, has picked up only one wicket in the tournament so far, and her economy rate is on the higher side. She needs to step up her game in the coming matches if she wants to retain her place in the team.
Left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad has done well in the tournament, picking up four wickets in four matches with an economy rate of 5.33. The 31-year-old Indian bowler is known for her accuracy and her ability to take wickets in the middle overs.
Sophie Ecclestone, the spin bowler, has been performing brilliantly in the WPL, having taken eight wickets in four matches while also being economical. In the next match, her role will be crucial in tackling RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana, who has had difficulties facing spinners in the current season.
The pacer Shabnim Ismail has yet to leave a mark, but she is likely to play rather than being rested. The UP team can trust the South African international as too many changes can upset the team’s balance. So far, Ismail has taken only one wicket in two matches.
As for the Indian duo of Anjali Sarvani and Rajeshwari Gayakwad, there is room for improvement. Gayakwad has taken three wickets and has been consistent in her line and length, but she is far from her best. Anjali, on the other hand, has only taken one wicket in four matches, which is underwhelming.
UP Warriorz Playing XI: Alyssa Healy (c & wk), Devika Vaidya, Kiran Navgire, Tahlia McGrath, Deepti Sharma, Simran Shaikh, Shweta Sehrawat, Sophie Ecclestone, Shabnim Ismail, Anjali Sarvani, Rajeshwari Gayakwad.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
