A big blow to the UP Warriorz side in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 with star batter Phoebe Litchfield being ruled out of the remainder of the tournament due to injury, forcing the franchise into a late scramble that has seen them bring England’s experienced wicketkeeper-batter Amy Jones into the squad as her replacement ahead of crucial upcoming matches.
Litchfield’s exit is a significant setback for the Meg Lanning-captained Warriorz. The young Australian had been in scintillating form in her first WPL season, scoring 243 runs in six matches at a brisk strike rate, including two half-centuries and a barrage of boundaries and sixes, and was sitting among the top three run-getters in the league this season. Her absence leaves a sizable hole in the UPW batting lineup at a critical juncture as the team fights to keep its playoff hopes alive.
The injury. widely reported as a quad injury — has seen Litchfield return home to Australia for rehabilitation and recovery. A spokesperson from Cricket Australia confirmed that she will miss the rest of the WPL, with her focus now shifting to fitness ahead of the impending Australia vs India series starting mid-February.
With UP Warriorz languishing near the bottom of the points table – currently with just two wins and four points from six games and a negative net run rate, the loss of their top-performer compounds their uphill task. They must now chase wins in both remaining fixtures, starting with Royal Challengers Bengaluru on January 29 and then a concluding match against Delhi Capitals on February 1, to even keep alive a mathematical chance of reaching the playoffs.
In response to Litchfield’s injury, the Warriorz have tapped Amy Jones, an experienced England international, as the replacement. Jones, who went unsold at the original WPL auction, was picked up at her base price of INR 50 lakh and brings a wealth of top-level experience. The 125-match T20I veteran has accumulated over 1,600 T20I runs for England and has enjoyed successful stints in global franchise leagues such as the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) and The Hundred.
Although Jones has not featured earlier in WPL, her proven ability to perform under pressure and adaptability across batting positions makes her an intriguing inclusion. At Melbourne Stars in the recent WBBL season, she was the team’s second-highest run-scorer with 234 runs at a strike rate of 125.80, showcasing her capability to make substantial contributions with the bat.
UP Warriorz’s coaching staff will hope that Jones can not only strengthen the middle order but also contribute behind the stumps, offering depth and tactical flexibility as the team tactically reshapes ahead of the season’s business end.
UP Warriorz’s situation in the 2026 WPL is far from ideal. With a poor net run rate and matches against strong opponents looming, their path to the playoffs demands not just wins but convincing performances to tilt the net run-rate calculus in their favour. Their forthcoming clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru comes with additional pressure, a loss could effectively seal their fate, while a win would at least keep the slim hopes alive.
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