The Eliminator of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 promises an electrifying showdown at Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara, on February 3 at 7:30 PM IST, as Delhi Capitals lock horns with Gujarat Giants. Delhi entered the playoffs clash after splitting their group stage with four wins from eight, but Gujarat has haunted them this season, clinching both encounters first by four runs defending 209, then by three runs after posting 174. With Gujarat securing five group stage victories from eight and the sides even at 4-4 head-to-head overall, the winner punches a ticket to the final against Royal Challengers Bangalore, turning this into a razor-sharp battle of redemption and resilience under the lights.
Squads:
Gujarat Giants Women’s Cricket Team
Ashleigh Gardner, Kanika Ahuja, Yastika Bhatia, Sophie Devine, Bharti Fulmali, Kim Garth, Kashvee Gautam, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Happy Kumari, Tanuja Kanwer, Beth Mooney, Renuka Singh, Titas Sadhu, Anushka Sharma, Ayushi Soni, Shivani Singh, Georgia Wareham, Danni Wyatt-Hodge
Delhi Capitals Women’s Cricket Team
Alana King, Chinelle Henry, Deeya Yadav, Jemimah Rodrigues, Laura Wolvaardt, Lizelle Lee, Lucy Hamilton, Mamatha Madiwala, Marizanne Kapp, Minu Mani, Nandani Sharma, Niki Prasad, Shafali Verma, Sneh Rana, Sree Charani, Taniya Bhatia
Players to watch out:
Lizelle Lee
Lizelle Lee’s explosive opening has been a lifeline for Delhi in tight chases, and she’ll be pivotal against a Gujarat attack that’s repeatedly edged them out. The right-hand batter has lit up 82 WT20Is with 1,896 runs at a strike rate of 110, while her eight WPL matches this season yield 240 runs at 136 highlighted by a blistering 86 in the first clash against Gujarat. On Kotambi’s batting paradise, Lee’s powerplay aggression could flip the script on her team’s narrow defeats.
Nandni Sharma
Nandni Sharma’s seasoned pace has terrorized Gujarat this season, making her an X-factor in Delhi’s bowling revival. The 24-year-old right arm fast medium specialist boasts 14 wickets in eight WPL matches at an economy of 7.70, with her career-best 5/33 coming right against Gujarat. Her ability to strike early and contain in the middle overs will be crucial on a surface that punishes wayward lengths.
Beth Mooney
Beth Mooney’s composure anchors Gujarat’s top-order. The left-hand batter has amassed 3,381 runs in 112 WT20Is at a strike rate of 125, and across 26 WPL games, she piled up 718 runs at 130 including a match defining 58 against Delhi Capitals in their last meeting. Her knack for building innings on flat tracks could set Gujarat up for another defendable total.
Sophie Devine
Sophie Devine’s all-round mastery gives Gujarat the edge in high pressure eliminators, as proven against Delhi. In 146 WT20Is, she’s claimed 3,431 runs at 120 and 119 wickets; her WPL ledger shows 639 runs at 153 and 26 wickets across 26 matches. She dominated their prior clashes 95 runs and two wickets in one, four wickets in the other making her variations a nightmare for Delhi Capitals.
Pitch:
Kotambi Stadium offers a batting-friendly surface that rewards stroke-makers, particularly as the match progresses. The pitch provides a solid base early on, allowing batters to play through the line, and under lights it tends to become even more conducive to stroke-play. Once set, batters can dominate and access both sides of the wicket, often forcing captains into defensive fields.
Weather:
Vadodara forecasts a warm evening with temperatures from a comfortable minimum of 19°C to a maximum of 32°C. Precipitation chances are at 0%, with light winds around 13 kph and humidity at 42%, ideal for uninterrupted cricket.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Lizelle Lee, Beth Mooney, Shafali Verma, Sophie Devine, Jemimah Rodrigues, Ashleigh Gardner, Nandni Sharma, Marizanne Kapp, Sneh Rana, Georgia Wareham, Rajeshwari Gayakwad
Match Details:
Date – February 3, 2026
Time – 7:30 PM IST
Venue – Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara
Broadcast – Telecast on Star Sports Network | Streaming on Jio Hotstar (India)
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