As the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 nears its final stages, the competition for playoff spots has intensified. With two spots still up for grabs, every match holds immense significance. Match 17 will feature the Gujarat Giants (GG) locking horns with the table-toppers, Delhi Capitals (DC), in what promises to be a high-stakes encounter. Scheduled for March 7 at 7:30 PM IST at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow, this fixture will be crucial for GG, who are pushing for a top three finish.
Both teams enter this clash on the back of victories. GG recently defeated UP Warriorz, while DC got the better of Royal Challengers Bengaluru. DC lead the table with five wins from seven matches and have already secured qualification, whereas GG, positioned second with three wins from six games, remain in the hunt for a playoff berth.
Squads:
Gujarat Giants
Ashleigh Gardner (C), Harleen Deol, Prakashika Naik, Beth Mooney, Kashvee Gautam, Priya Mishra, Bharti Fulmali, Laura Wolvaardt, Sayali Satghare, Danielle Gibson, Mannat Kashyap, Shabnam Shakil, Dayalan Hemalatha, Meghna Singh, Simran Shaikh, Deandra Dottin, Phoebe Litchfield, Tanuja Kanwer
Delhi Capitals
Meg Lanning (C), Alice Capsey, Sarah Bryce, Annabel Sutherland, Minnu Mani, Shafali Verma, Arundhati Reddy, N Charani, Shikha Pandey, Jemimah Rodrigues, Nandini Kashyap, Sneha Deepthi, Jess Jonassen, Nikki Prasad, Taniyaa Bhatia, Marizanne Kapp, Radha Yadav, Titas Sadhu
Players to watch out:
Kashvee Gautam
The talented all-rounder has been instrumental for GG this season. She made her mark with 20 off 15 balls and figures of 2/15 against Mumbai Indians, dismissing key players like Harmanpreet Kaur and Amelia Kerr. She followed it up with 2/26 against DC, 1/17 against RCB, and a match-winning 3/11 against UPW in her last outing.
Deandra Dottin
Dottin has been a dynamic presence for GG. She kicked off her campaign with 25 off 13 balls and 1/41 against RCB and later produced a blistering 33* off 18 and 2/34 against UPW. After a couple of underwhelming performances, she regained form with 2/31 against RCB and 17(8) alongside 2/14 against UPW.
Shafali Verma
A destructive opener, Shafali started her season in style with a blistering 43 off 18 balls against Mumbai Indians. However, she suffered a setback with a golden duck against RCB before regaining rhythm with 26 (16) and 24 (30) against UPW. She further impressed with 44 against Gujarat Giants, 43 against MI, and an unbeaten 80 off 43 balls against RCB, underlining her match-winning potential.
Marizanne Kapp
The South African all-rounder has been a key player for DC. She contributed 29* off 17 and 1/30 against UPW, followed by 2/18 and 2/17 in subsequent games. In the most recent match against RCB, she delivered a tight spell of 1/18, which included the crucial wicket of the explosive Danielle Wyatt-Hodge.
Pitch:
The Ekana Cricket Stadium pitch is expected to offer a balanced contest between bat and ball. Spinners are likely to play a dominant role, while batters will need to apply themselves to score freely. The average first-innings total at this venue is 131, and teams winning the toss generally prefer to bowl first.
Weather:
Clear skies will ensure ideal playing conditions in Lucknow. The temperature will range between 29°C (max) and 14°C (min), with humidity around 46% and wind speeds of 14 kph.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning, Shafali Verma, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Jess Jonassen, Deandra Dottin, Marizanne Kapp, Shikha Pandey, Kashvee Gautam, Priya Mishra
Match details:
Date – March 7, 2025
Time – 7:30 PM IST
Venue – Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
Broadcast – Live streaming on Jio Hotstar; Telecast on Star Sports Network
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