With the highest-ever WPL total and a victory over reigning champion Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), UP Warriorz wrapped up their Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 campaign in dramatic fashion.
The Warriorz made sure their homecoming was unforgettable by playing for the first time at their home field, the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
The decisive victory gave Deepti Sharma’s team a much-needed bright spot in the otherwise disastrous season. With a spectacular performance of 99* off 56 balls, young Australian batter Georgia Voll won the match and helped UP Warriorz to a record-breaking 225/5.
Her powerful and accurate innings sees her with the highest individual score in the competition’s history. Sophie Ecclestone and Deepti Sharma, who each took three wickets to guarantee that RCB’s pursuit never gained heat, complemented Voll’s genius. The Warriorz finished their season on a high note due to their dominant all-around performance, which enabled them to score a huge victory.
Even though they had a strong campaign finale, UP Warriorz’s WPL 2025 season was derailed by inconsistent play. Deepti Sharma took over as captain after usual skipper Alyssa Healy had to miss with an injury prior to the competition. UPW found it difficult to gain momentum under her direction, winning only two of their first seven games, including an exciting Super Over triumph.
They lost their opening two games of the season, first by six wickets to the Gujarat Giants and then by seven wickets against the Delhi Capitals. After defeating Delhi by 33 runs in their third game, they recovered well and defeated RCB by four runs in a thrilling Super Over finale. Their problems persisted, though, as they lost to Mumbai by eight wickets, Gujarat by an overwhelming 81 runs, and Mumbai again by six wickets but ended their campaign in style scripting history and a record score of 225.
The team made its historic appearance in Lucknow even more memorable by wearing a rani pink uniform in remembrance of freedom legend Rani Lakshmi Bai, instead of their customary yellow and purple jerseys. The franchise has promised to promote girls’ education in Uttar Pradesh and invited 635 young girls to see a live WPL match as part of their commitment to women’s empowerment.
Several players made a lasting impression with exceptional performances, even if the UP Warriorz were unable to qualify for the playoffs. While new player Georgia Voll showed great promise in her first WPL season, veteran all-rounders Grace Harris, Sophie Ecclestone, and debutant Chinelle Henry played important roles.
Sophie Ecclestone was a vital player with the bat and the ball, amassing 98 runs and taking nine wickets at a remarkable 6.87 economy rate over eight games. Grace Harris, who scored 163 runs and claimed eight wickets in her eight games, was an essential all-around performer.
In her first WPL season, Chinelle Henry added explosive power to the team by taking six wickets and hitting 163 runs at a scorching strike rate of 196 in seven games. One of the most promising young players, Voll, finished her first season with a spectacular undefeated score of 99 in UP Warriorz’s record-breaking 225/5. These performances gave UP a lot of things to improve on going forward, even though their season was uneven.
Reflecting on the campaign, captain Deepti Sharma expressed gratitude to the Lucknow fans, stating, “We are thankful for the incredible support we received at home. This experience has strengthened our resolve, and we will come back stronger next season.”
Capri Sports Director Jinisha Sharma pointed out the same emotions, stressing the significance of the team’s development and journey and said, “Playing in Lucknow for the first time has been a fantastic experience. The support from our fans has been overwhelming, and we are determined to build on this foundation for the future.”
Loves all things female cricket