As the world celebrates International Women’s Day, UP Warriorz will take to the field in Rani Pink jerseys for their final match of Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025, against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. This initiative, in collaboration with the non-profit organization Educate Girls, is dedicated to championing the cause of girls’ education in Uttar Pradesh.
Departing from their traditional yellow and purple attire, UP Warriorz will embrace a special edition jersey ‘Rani Pink’—a hue that embodies strength, courage, and resilience, inspired by the legendary Rani Lakshmi Bai. The players will also don the armbands inscribed with “Her Education, Our Promise,” underscoring their dedication to empowering young girls through education. Furthermore, the franchise’s logo, featuring Rani Lakshmi Bai in pink, serves as a poignant reminder of this dedication to women’s empowerment.
Educate Girls, a non-profit organisation, since its inception in 2007, has been tirelessly working to mobilise communities for girls’ education in India’s rural and educationally backward areas. Through their partnership with Educate Girls, UP Warriorz has also supported 4,000 women and has pledged to further strengthen their commitment. Educate Girls aims to impact 10 million learners by 2035.
As a part of their collaboration, UP Warriorz also hosted 635 young girls from the Educate Girls program and Team Balika volunteers, during the Lucknow leg of the tournament, offering them a firsthand experience of live cricket. During their first visit to their home city, the UP Warriorz’s players made a meaningful impact, unveiling two murals that celebrate cricket and inspiring stories of women breaking barriers.
Additionally, the team has launched a heartwarming campaign called “Papa Ki Warriorz” which showcases the pivotal role of fathers in supporting their daughters’ aspirations, as they climb the ladder to success in their chosen fields.
While UP Warriorz have been making a positive impact off the field, their on-field journey has been marked by significant challenges. The team was dealt a major blow when their captain, Alyssa Healy, suffered a foot injury prior to the tournament, leading to all-rounder Deepti Sharma stepping in as the new captain.
Under Sharma’s leadership, the Warriorz managed only two wins in their first seven games. Their inconsistent performance culminated in their elimination from the tournament on March 7, 2025, following a victory by the Gujarat Giants over Delhi Capitals, making them the first team to exit the competition.
UP’s campaign began on a disappointing note, losing to Gujarat Giants by six wickets in a low-scoring chase. They then suffered a narrow defeat against Delhi Capitals, who won by seven wickets with just one ball to spare despite Kiran Navgire’s 51.
However, the Warriorz bounced back in their third match against Delhi, exacting revenge with a 33-run win, as Kranti Goud and Grace Harris took a four-wicket haul, including a hat-trick, and Chinelle Henry delivered a match-winning performance of 62(23). They then pushed their next match against RCB to WPL’s first super-over, where Sophie Ecclestone’s heroics sealed the win.
Unfortunately, these were the only two wins for UP Warriorz, as they subsequently lost to Mumbai Indians by eight wickets and suffered a massive 81-run defeat against Gujarat at their home ground in Lucknow, followed by another six-wicket loss to Mumbai.
In their pink jersey match, their last of the season, UP Warriorz will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who are in a must-win situation to stay in contention. UP Warriorz will look to end their season on a high note and make this special match a winning one.
While their on-field performance may not have met expectations, UP Warriorz’s off-field initiatives, such as the Papa ki Warriorz and the Rani Pink jersey campaign, have made a lasting impact by raising awareness and supporting the cause of girls’ education in India.
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