Written By: Shreya Patil
Published: January 13, 2026

The Women’s Premier League 2026 is heating up, and Match 7 has a real twist: Delhi Capitals versus UP Warriorz, set for January 14 at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. Both squads shook things up this season, so there’s a lot to watch.

Delhi Capitals handed the captain’s armband to Jemimah Rodrigues, who is just 25 and now the youngest skipper in WPL history. They let Meg Lanning go, hoping some new energy will finally get them over the line. Delhi made the finals three times in a row but always came up short.

On the other side, UP Warriorz picked up Meg Lanning as their new captain. She practically wrote the playbook for Delhi, leading them to those three finals, and now she’s up against her old team. DC won 4 matches, and UPW won 2 matches against each other; The Warriorz didn’t have much to celebrate last season, finishing at the bottom, so they’re pretty hungry for a comeback. 

Match Details: DC vs UPW

Here are the key details of DC vs UPW:

DetailInformation
MatchUP Warriorz vs Delhi Capitals, Match 7
SeriesWomen’s Premier League 2026
DateJanuary 14, 2026
Time7:30 PM IST
VenueDr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai
StreamingJioHotstar
BroadcastStar Sports
Match Details: DC vs UPW
Source: myKhel

Head-to-Head Record: DC vs UPW 

StatisticUPWDC
Total Matches Played66
Wins24

WPL 2025 Performance 

TeamPlayedWonLostWin%
UPW93633.33%
DC115645.45%

WPL 2025 Top Performers

Batters:

  • Shafali Verma (DC): 326 runs
  • Chinelle Henry (DC): 163 runs

Bowlers:

  • Jess Jonassen (DC): 13 wickets
  • Sophie Ecclestone (UPW): 11 wickets

Pitch Report

Here is the pitch report that tells us the quality of the pitch:

FeatureDescription
Pitch CharacterBatter-friendly. The surface offers a consistent pace and bounce. The ball comes onto the bat nicely, making stroke-play easier.
Early AdvantageSeamers. Fast bowlers can test lengths in the initial overs, though movement is limited.
Mid-Game ShiftSpinners. As the match progresses, spinners may get some grip. Evening dew can make it harder for them to control the ball.
Average 1st Innings Score165-175 runs.
Boundary DimensionsShort (48 m) to Moderate (66 m). The shorter boundaries encourage risk-free hitting and high-scoring games.
Toss StrategyBowl first. Chasing teams have enjoyed better success at this venue due to evening dew.

DC-W vs UPW-W Match 7: Winning & Toss Odds

Platform1xBetStake4RABETBetVibe
DC-W Win Odds1.751.761.771.78
UPW-W Win Odds2.0122.022.03
Toss Odds (DC-W)1.901.851.871.88
Toss Odds (UPW-W)1.901.851.871.88

Probable Playing XI

Here are the probable playing 11 of both teams:

Delhi Capitals (DC)

Shafali Verma, Laura Wolvaardt, Jemimah Rodrigues (C), Marizanne Kapp, Deeya Yadav, Chinelle Henry, Lizelle Lee (WK), Sneh Rana, Minnu Mani, Alana King, Nandani Sharma

UP Warriorz (UPW)

Meg Lanning (C), Kiran Navgire, Harleen Deol, Phoebe Litchfield, Deepti Sharma, Deandra Dottin, Shipra Giri (WK), Sophie Ecclestone, Asha Sobhana, Shikha Pandey, Kranti Goud

Team Analysis

Here is some key information about both teams:

Delhi Capitals (DC)

Delhi Capitals enter their fourth WPL season with a new captain and fresh ambitions. Jemimah Rodrigues takes over from Meg Lanning, becoming the youngest skipper in WPL history at 25 years. The team has reached all three finals so far but has not yet lifted the trophy. This time, they want to go one step further.

The batting lineup looks strong with Shafali Verma and Laura Wolvaardt at the top. Shafali scored 304 runs in WPL 2025 at a strike rate of 152.76 and loves to attack from ball one. Wolvaardt brings consistency and class to the opening slot. Marizanne Kapp and Chinelle Henry provide firepower in the middle order.

The bowling attack features variety. Alana King joined as a replacement for Annabel Sutherland and brings her leg-spin into the mix. Sneh Rana offers control with her off-spin and chips in with useful runs. Nandani Sharma impressed with a hat-trick in the recent match against Gujarat Giants, showing that DC has found a promising young pacer.

UP Warriorz (UPW)

UP Warriorz have rebuilt their squad under new captain Meg Lanning and coach Abhishek Nayar. The Australian great led Delhi Capitals to three straight finals and knows how to handle pressure situations. Lanning has won five T20 World Cups and two ODI World Cups with Australia, making her one of the most successful captains in cricket.

The batting has a solid core with Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield, and Harleen Deol. Kiran Navgire and Deandra Dottin provide power-hitting in the middle and death overs. Deepti Sharma remains the heart of the team with her all-around skills. She picked up 152 wickets in 133 T20Is and scored over 1,100 runs.

Sophie Ecclestone leads the bowling attack with her left-arm spin. She is one of the best spinners in world cricket and can trouble any batting lineup. Shikha Pandey, signed for 2.4 crore at the auction, brings pace and experience. She has the second-most wickets for a fast bowler in WPL history with 30 scalps from 27 innings.

Key Players to Watch

Here are the best players to watch out for in this battle:

Best Batter: Shafali Verma (DC)

The young Indian opener plays without fear. She scored 326 runs in head-to-head matches against UP Warriorz, the most by any batter in this fixture. Shafali attacks from the very first ball and puts pressure on the bowling side right away. Her strike rate of 152.76 in WPL 2025 shows how quickly she can change the game.

Best Bowler: Sophie Ecclestone (UPW)

The England left-arm spinner ranks among the best in world cricket. She picked up 11 wickets in head-to-head matches against Delhi Capitals. Ecclestone varies her pace cleverly and makes run-scoring difficult in the middle overs. Her ability to take wickets in clusters can swing matches in her team’s favor.

Match Prediction

This match carries extra significance with Meg Lanning facing her former team. She knows Delhi Capitals well after leading them for three seasons. However, DC also knows her strengths and weaknesses. This tactical battle between the two sides adds another layer to the contest.

Delhi Capitals hold a 4-2 advantage in head-to-head meetings. They have a strong batting lineup with Shafali, Wolvaardt, and Jemimah all capable of match-winning knocks. The bowling has improved with Alana King’s addition, and Nandani Sharma’s emergence gives them another option.

UP Warriorz look more balanced this season. Lanning’s leadership and experience can make a big difference. Their bowling attack, led by Ecclestone and Pandey, has the depth to trouble any lineup. The key for them will be converting good starts into big scores.

Winner Prediction: Delhi Capitals (DC)

Delhi Capitals have the edge in this encounter. Their batting depth and head-to-head record favor them. Jemimah Rodrigues will be eager to prove herself as captain, and the team has enough match-winners to get the job done. UP Warriorz will put up a fight, but DC should come out on top.

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Conclusion

Match 7 between DC and UPW is more than just another game. Jemimah Rodrigues takes charge of Delhi Capitals for the first time, and across the field, Meg Lanning, now with UP Warriorz, faces her old team. That alone cranks up the drama. Both squads are packed with talent and hungry for a win to move up the table. DY Patil Stadium sets the stage, the lights are on, and you can feel the buzz. This one’s shaping up to be a real battle.

About the Author

Shreya Patil is a Mumbai-based documentary photographer turned cricket storyteller. Having covered local leagues through her lens, she now writes feature pieces at WPLeague, capturing the human side of women’s cricket beyond the boundary ropes.

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