Following their record-breaking victory against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, UP Warriorz have brought the curtain down on their Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 campaign, ending the season on a high note with three wins. Unfortunately, their journey has ended without a playoff berth for the second consecutive year.
Despite failing to make it to the playoffs, UP Warriorz have had some memorable moments in the WPL 2025 season. They were involved in the tournament’s first-ever Super-Over, and also witnessed history being made with the first hat-trick of WPL 2025, courtesy of Grace Harris. Additionally, Chinelle Henry’s blistering knock earned her the joint-fastest fifty of the tournament and Georgia Voll’s 99* stands as the highest individual score. The team also etched their name in the record books, by posting the highest team total in WPL history – 225/5.
Before the tournament began, UP suffered a significant blow when their captain Alyssa Healy was ruled out due to an injury. Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma was tasked with taking on the mantle of leadership.
Their campaign began on a disappointing note as they lost to Gujarat Giants by six wickets at Vadodara on February 16. After being put in to bat, UP Warriorz managed to score only 143, with skipper Deepti Sharma top-scoring with 39. In response, Gujarat chased down the target with ease as Ashleigh Gardner hit a match-winning fifty. Despite Sophie Ecclestone’s best efforts with the ball, taking two wickets, UP fell short.
Warriorz’s second match against Delhi Capitals was a close affair, with the team ultimately falling short by seven wickets. Batting first, Kiran Navgire’s 51(27) propelled UP to a total of 166. However, Delhi Capitals chased down the target with ease as Meg Lanning and Annabel Sutherland played crucial knocks to seal the win on the penultimate ball of the innings.
The Deepti Sharma led side made a stunning comeback, winning their next two matches at Bengaluru. They first defeated Delhi Capitals by 33 runs, with debutant Chinelle Henry (62) smashing joint-fastest fifty to take them to a total of 177. Kranti Goud and Grace Harris wreaked havoc with the ball, taking four wickets each, with Harris claiming a hat-trick.
They followed this up with a thrilling win against RCB, taking the match to a super-over. UP needed 18 off the last over, chasing a target of 181. Sophie Ecclestone’s heroic 33 off 19 balls, levelled the scores leading to WPL’s first super-over. In the super-over, Ecclestone once again proved to be the hero, successfully defending just 8 runs to win the second match for Warriorz.
However, UP Warriorz’s momentum was short-lived as they suffered a string of defeats. They were first thrashed by Mumbai Indians by eight wickets, after being restricted to a paltry 142 runs, despite Grace Harris’ valiant 45. Mumbai chased down the target with ease, losing just two wickets.
The tournament then moved to Lucknow, UP Warriorz’ home ground, but fortunes didn’t change as Gujarat Giants handed them a crushing 81-run defeat. Chasing 187, UP Warriorz struggled to get going, with only Chinelle Henry showing some spark with a 28 off 14 balls.
The losing streak continued as they faced Mumbai Indians again at home, this time losing by six wickets. UP Warriorz could only manage 150 batting first, with Georgia Voll scoring an impressive 55 off 33 balls, but Mumbai chased down the target easily, losing four wickets in the process.
However, in a grand finale to their campaign, they delivered a scintillating performance defeating RCB by 12 runs and securing their first win at their home ground in Lucknow. The match was a record-breaker, with UP posting the highest team total of 225/5, as Georgia Voll remained unbeaten on 99 and Kiran Navgire smashed an explosive 46. They maintained a strong grip on the match as Sophie Ecclestone and Deepti Sharma took three wickets each. In a closely contested encounter, RCB ultimately missed the mark.
The win not only ended their campaign on a high note but also spoiled RCB’s chances of qualifying for the playoffs. With this victory, they wrapped up their campaign with three wins and six points.
It was marked by some impressive debuts. Georgia Voll, who played three matches, made a notable impact, scoring 154 runs. Chinelle Henry also made a significant contribution, amassing 163 runs in seven innings while taking six wickets. Kranti Goud, another debutant took six wickets in eight matches. These promising performances have provided a silver lining for Warriorz, giving them hope for a stronger comeback in next season.
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