WPL 2026: UP Warriorz Bowl First as Gujarat Giants Welcome Danni Wyatt-Hodge Against Former Team

The Women's Premier League 2026 continues its journey with the Vadodara leg, and the opening encounter sees UP Warriorz take on Gujarat Giants in what promises to be an intriguing contest. Captain Meg Lanning won the toss and elected to bowl first, citing early dew as a key factor in her decision.

Toss Decision and Conditions

Lanning's choice to field first was influenced by the conditions at Kotambi Stadium.

"It's a little bit dewy already."

The Australian skipper's observation suggests that chasing could prove advantageous as the evening progresses. The UP Warriorz enter this fixture riding high on momentum, having concluded the Navi Mumbai leg with consecutive victories over Mumbai Indians.

Pitch Report and Ground Dimensions

The third match day of the Vadodara leg saw a fresh pitch being used, with both square boundaries measuring 55 meters from the centre. The straight boundary extends to 66 meters, offering reasonable hitting distance for power hitters.

The black-soil surface displayed visible cracks, and expert analysis from Mithali Raj suggested that the well-rolled pitch would see the ball skid through under lights, potentially aiding pace bowlers.

Team Changes: Gujarat Giants Shake Things Up

Gujarat Giants, desperate to arrest a three-match losing streak, made two significant changes to their playing XI following their defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge Returns Against Former Franchise

The headline change sees England international Danni Wyatt-Hodge slot into the lineup at number three. The move carries additional intrigue as Wyatt-Hodge was part of the UP Warriorz setup in 2024 before being traded to RCB, and now finds herself lining up for Gujarat Giants against her former team.

Her experience and versatility at the top of the order could prove crucial for a struggling GG side.

Spin Reshuffle for Gujarat

In the bowling department, left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad replaced fellow left-arm spinner Tanuja Kanwar, who has struggled to make an impact this season, remaining wicketless in her appearances. Legspinning allrounder Georgia Wareham makes way for Wyatt-Hodge in the other change.

UP Warriorz Remain Unchanged

Confidence appears high in the UP Warriorz camp as they field an unchanged XI after a five-day break. The combination that secured back-to-back wins in Navi Mumbai remains intact, with the team looking to carry that winning momentum into the new leg of the tournament.

Playing XIs

Gujarat Giants

• Beth Mooney (wk)
• Sophie Devine
• Danni Wyatt-Hodge
• Anushka Sharma
• Ashleigh Gardner (capt)
• Kanika Ahuja
• Bharti Fulmali
• Kashvee Gautam
• Happy Kumari
• Renuka Singh
• Rajeshwari Gayakwad

UP Warriorz

• Meg Lanning (capt)
• Kiran Navgire
• Phoebe Litchfield
• Harleen Deol
• Chloe Tryon
• Shweta Sehrawat (wk)
• Deepti Sharma
• Sophie Ecclestone
• Asha Sobhana
• Shikha Pandey
• Kranti Gaud

Venue Trends and Outlook

The Kotambi Stadium has offered varied results so far in the Vadodara leg. While Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully defended their target in one match, Delhi Capitals achieved a successful chase in the previous encounter, suggesting that both batting first and second remain viable options.

For Gujarat Giants, breaking their three-match losing streak is imperative if they are to remain in playoff contention. Captain Ashleigh Gardner will hope the inclusion of Wyatt-Hodge's batting prowess and Gayakwad's experience can provide the spark needed.

Meanwhile, UP Warriorz will look to continue their winning run and establish early dominance in the Vadodara leg under Lanning's astute leadership.