WPL 2025 DC vs UPW: Chinelle Henry Debuts For UP Warriorz

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As the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 season wears on, the UP Warriorz and Delhi Capitals are preparing for a nail-biting duel. Each team has responded with tactical alterations in their playing XI as they seek to take advantage of the Vadodara conditions for what is shaping up to be an electrifying game. The game is the last league match to be staged at the venue, as action shifts to Bengaluru on February 21.

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Delhi Capitals Decide to Bowl, Introduce Niki Prasad

In a pattern that has been uniform throughout the WPL 2025 season so far, Delhi Capitals won the toss and decided to bowl first. This is the Capitals’ third game in the tournament so far, where they have one win and one loss.

Captain Meg Lanning pointed out that they substituted one player in their playing XI by including Niki Prasad, their Player of the Match from the first game, for left-arm spinner Radha Yadav.

Prasad will bring strength to the team’s bowling to restrict the Warriorz and chase down whatever target the Warriorz might set before them. Lanning’s opting to bowl first is in tandem with the successful chasing teams’ record in the last five matches, indicating the conditions are right for teams arriving second.

UP Warriorz Make Two Changes for the Clash

Conversely, UP Warriorz brought two notable changes to their XI before the match. As much as they prefer to bat first, Warriorz captain Deepti Sharma admitted that they would have bowled had they won the toss. Sharma reaffirmed her want for her batsmen to post a high score and defend it later.

Two new players have been added for this match by the Warriorz. West Indies all-rounder Chinelle Henry plays her WPL, and she takes the place of leg-spinner Alana King. Rajeshwari Gayakwad is also included in place of medium-pacer Saima Thakor. These are expected to inject a new flavor into the side, with Henry’s all-round talent and Gayakwad’s left-arm spin bound to play an influential role in the match.

Pitch Conditions Favor Chasing Teams

The match today is going to take place on the same ground on which the first match of the season was held, in which 202 runs were chased down successfully. Thereafter, there have been winning chasing sides in all the matches, reinforcing the pattern that the teams opt for bowling first.

The pitch of 49-meter and 59-meter square boundaries is going to affect field adjustments and changes in bowling, especially in squares around the wicket. Teams will have to adjust to these circumstances and make corresponding strategic changes.

Vadodara to Host Final League Match Prior to Bengaluru Shift

This match would also be the final league game to be played in Vadodara, with the tournament shifting to Bengaluru after February 21, after a day off on Thursday. The shift to Bengaluru will see new challenges and opportunities for both teams, as they get set for the concluding stage of the competition.

Team Rosters for the Match

Delhi Capitals:

1. Meg Lanning (skipper)
2. Shafali Verma
3. Jemimah Rodrigues
4. Annabel Sutherland
5. Marizanne Kapp
6. Niki Prasad
7. Jess Jonassen
8. Sarah Bryce (wicketkeeper)
9. Shikha Pandey
10. Arundhati Reddy
11. Minnu Mani

UP Warriorz:

1. Kiran Navgire
2. Vrinda Dinesh
3. Uma Chetry (wicketkeeper)
4. Deepti Sharma (captain)
5. Tahlia McGrath
6. Grace Harris
7. Chinelle Henry
8. Shweta Sehrawat
9. Sophie Ecclestone
10. Rajeshwari Gayakwad
11. Kranti Goud

A Key Match for Both Teams

The Delhi Capitals seek to rebound following their inconclusive performances in the tournament thus far, while the UP Warriorz are keen to bounce back from their solitary defeat, which was against Gujarat Giants. The result of this game is significant for both teams since it will allow them to gain momentum ahead of the later part of the competition.

With the line-up changes in both teams and the good pitch conditions for chasing, the fans are in for an interesting match as the two teams fight it out for dominance in Vadodara.

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