As the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 heads into its final stretch, the fight for playoff spots has reached its peak. With just two slots remaining, every match becomes a battle of survival. In Match 18, the UP Warriorz (UPW) are set to take on the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in a must-win encounter. The high-stakes showdown is scheduled for March 8 at 7:30 PM IST at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
Both teams are coming off defeats, with UPW falling short against Mumbai Indians, while RCB succumbed to the Delhi Capitals. Their struggles have kept them at the bottom of the table—UPW currently sit in last place with two wins from seven matches, while RCB are just slightly ahead with two victories in six games. With playoff qualification hanging by a thread, RCB must deliver a commanding performance and hope for favorable results elsewhere.
Wicketkeeper:
Richa Ghosh
Ghosh has been one of RCB’s most consistent performers this season. The explosive wicketkeeper-batter has accumulated 125 runs in six matches at a blistering strike rate of 164.47. Her scores of 64* and 28 stand out as examples of her ability to accelerate when needed. Despite a few low scores (11*, 8, 9, 5), her aggressive approach makes her a must-have pick in the fantasy lineup.
Batters:
Danielle Wyatt-Hodge
Wyatt-Hodge, the experienced English batter, brings a wealth of international experience with 170 T20I appearances and 3,190 runs under her belt. Her WPL campaign started with a modest 4 against Gujarat Giants, but she found her form with a solid 42 off 33 against Delhi Capitals and followed it up with a match-winning 57 against the same opposition. Despite scoring only 4 and 21 in her last two outings, she remains a dangerous asset at the top.
Smriti Mandhana
Mandhana, India’s vice-captain, had a slow start but silenced critics with a breathtaking 81 off 47 against Delhi Capitals. She followed it up with a quickfire 26 off 13 against Mumbai Indians but has since struggled, scoring just 6, 10, and 8 in her last three outings. However, with 140 runs in six matches, Mandhana remains a key player in RCB’s batting lineup.
All-Rounders:
Grace Harris
Harris endured a tough start to the season with scores of 4, 12, and 2, but she turned things around with the ball, claiming a sensational hat-trick (4/15) against Delhi Capitals. She rediscovered her batting touch with a blistering 45 off 26 against Mumbai Indians and followed it up with a crucial 25-run knock against Gujarat Giants. Against MI, she delivered yet again, scoring 28 and taking 2/11. With 542 runs and 13 wickets in 21 WPL matches, Harris remains a game-changer.
Ellyse Perry
Perry, last season’s Orange Cap winner, has once again dominated with the bat. Her outstanding knocks of 57, 81, and 90* against UPW underline her brilliance. She continued her fine form with a stellar 60* in her latest match against Delhi Capitals. With 295 runs at an astonishing average of 98.33 and a strike rate of 149.74, Perry has also started contributing with the ball, picking up one wicket. Across two seasons, she has scored 895 runs and taken 12 wickets, including a career-best 6/15.
Deepti Sharma
Sharma has led the UP Warriorz from the front. She kicked off the season with a strong 39 off 27 and has consistently delivered with the ball, taking 1/27, 1/25, and 1/42 against RCB, where she also chipped in with 25 runs. She continued her good form, returning figures of 1/25 against MI and 1/37 against Gujarat Giants. With 506 WPL runs and 24 wickets to her name, she remains an invaluable all-rounder.
Georgia Wareham
Wareham has bounced back strongly after a difficult start, where she conceded 1/50 in her opening match. Since then, she has delivered match-winning spells of 3/25 against Delhi Capitals and 3/21 against Mumbai Indians. She also contributed 20* with the bat and took 2/26 against Gujarat Giants. Across two WPL seasons, Wareham has accumulated 186 runs at a strike rate of 126.53 and has picked up 17 wickets, making her a valuable fantasy pick.
Chinelle Henry
Henry has been a revelation for UP Warriorz in the absence of Alyssa Healy. She announced herself with an unbeaten 33 off 15 on debut, followed by a scintillating 62 off 23 and another explosive 28 off 14. With the ball, she has been effective, returning figures of 1/42, 1/34, 1/31, and 1/28 in consecutive matches. Her ability to accelerate with the bat—144 runs at a stunning strike rate of 211.76—combined with four wickets, makes her a standout performer.
Bowlers:
Sophie Ecclestone
Ecclestone has been a reliable wicket-taking option for UP Warriorz. She has delivered crucial spells of 2/16, 1/31, and 0/28 and even played a match-winning 33 off 19 with the bat. Her ability to handle pressure was evident when she successfully defended eight runs in a Super Over. Against Mumbai Indians, she dismissed Hayley Matthews (1/29) and followed it up with 2/34 against Gujarat Giants. With 33 wickets in 24 WPL matches at an average of 19.30, she is a go-to bowler for UPW.
Kim Garth
Garth had a quiet start, going wicketless against Gujarat Giants (0/34), but she has since found her rhythm. She has consistently delivered, picking up 2/19, 2/30, and 2/40 in her next three matches. Her latest outing saw her score 14 runs and register 0/19 against GG. With 17 WPL wickets to her name and an international record of 764 runs and 49 wickets, Garth adds depth to RCB’s bowling attack.
Renuka Singh Thakur
Renuka has been in terrific form, leading RCB’s pace attack with precision. She made an immediate impact with 2/25 and 3/23 against Delhi Capitals, though she went wicketless against Mumbai Indians (0/35). She bounced back strongly with 2/36 against UPW, 2/24 against GG, and 1/28 against DC. With 10 wickets in six matches, Renuka’s ability to strike with the new ball makes her a key player in this contest.
With playoff berths on the line, the clash between UP Warriorz and RCB promises to be an intense battle. While UPW rely on the leadership of Deepti Sharma and the all-round brilliance of Grace Harris and Sophie Ecclestone, RCB will bank on Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry, and Renuka Singh Thakur to turn their fortunes around.
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