By Prakash Nair 
Navi Mumbai, January 10: By the time the coin landed at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, the subtext was already clear. This was not just Match 2 of the Women’s Premier League 2026 (WPL. It was about intent, resets, and early statements.
The UP Warriorz, under new captain Meg Lanning, chose to field first after winning the toss against the Gujarat Giants. On a ground that rarely forgives timid bowling and often rewards clean chasing, the decision made practical sense. It also said something quieter but more important: UPW wants control back, early in this season.
A Toss Call That Said More Than It Seemed
Lanning did not dress the call up as anything revolutionary. Conditions, she said, looked good for batting later. Anyone who has watched cricket at this venue knows the logic. Flat surface. Fast outfield. Short square boundaries that turn timing into damage.
Still, the toss mattered because of who made the call. UP Warriorz finished last season at the bottom, a campaign that drifted without momentum or clarity. Lanning’s arrival is meant to steady that drift. Choosing to bowl first, in a day game, was a captain backing her bowlers to absorb pressure and her batters to finish the job.
Across from her, Ashleigh Gardner looked unbothered. Gujarat Giants were happy to bat. Their top order, she pointed out, had firepower and experience. If they could post something north of par, the chase would not be straightforward.
WPL Team Selections Hint At Long-Term Thinking
Gujarat’s XI underlined that confidence. Beth Mooney and Sophie Devine at the top is as proven a pairing as the league has. One accumulates. The other explodes. Together, they set the tone rather than chase it.
UP Warriorz, meanwhile, leaned heavily into variety. Six bowling options, each offering something different. Deepti Sharma for control. Sophie Ecclestone for left-arm spin and relentless accuracy. Deandra Dottin for raw pace and muscle. It was a selection built less for headline wickets and more for managing phases.
As it turned out, the early overs became a contest of patience rather than power.
Gujarat Builds Without Rushing
Gujarat Giants did not explode out of the blocks, and that felt deliberate. After five overs, they were 47 for 1, ticking along at just under ten an over. Enough intent to keep fielders back. Enough caution to avoid the early collapse that has haunted teams here before.
Sophie Devine looked sharp from the moment she settled. Her 38 came quickly but not recklessly, using the straight boundaries more than the square ones. When she fell, Gujarat lost momentum for a few balls, not belief.
That belief was carried by Beth Mooney, who did what she does best. She anchored, rotated, waited. While others took risks around her, Mooney ensured Gujarat always had a base.
For UP Warriorz, the early highlight was Kranti Gaud. Her opening over went for just three runs, a rare moment of quiet on a ground that usually hums from ball one. It gave UPW exactly what they wanted: a pause.
Even so, Gujarat kept finding gaps. By the time they moved past 121 for 2, the innings had shape. Not reckless. Not slow. Just measured enough to leave room for a finish.
Why This Game Feels Bigger Than Two Points
It is only the second match of the season, but context matters in this league. The opening night already delivered drama, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru pulling off a three-wicket win over the Mumbai Indians, thanks largely to late-order calm under pressure.
Gujarat Giants come into 2026 carrying expectations. Last season’s playoff run suggested a side learning how to win together. Gardner’s leadership has brought edge and accountability, but converting strong positions into trophies is the next step.
UP Warriorz are chasing something different. Credibility, perhaps. Direction, certainly. With Lanning at the helm, this season is meant to feel less chaotic, more deliberate. A successful chase here would not erase last year, but it would signal that the tone has changed.
For now, the match remains alive, moving towards its decisive stages under clear skies in Navi Mumbai. Gujarat has laid a platform. UP Warriorz will soon have to prove that their new leadership and planning translate into runs when it matters most.
The rest will unfold under lights, with a chase waiting to define the evening.
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- Prakash Nairhttps://hindustanherald.in/authors/prakash/
- Prakash Nairhttps://hindustanherald.in/authors/prakash/
- Prakash Nairhttps://hindustanherald.in/authors/prakash/
- Prakash Nairhttps://hindustanherald.in/authors/prakash/
