The Women’s Premier League (WPL) action continues to heat up at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. In a high-stakes Saturday afternoon clash, Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and elected to field against the UP Warriorz (UPW). This fixture carries a heavy sense of redemption for Mumbai, who are looking to bounce back after falling to this same opposition in their previous encounter.
Strategic shifts were the order of the day for the defending champions. Mumbai made two significant changes to their lineup, most notably resting pace spearhead Shabnim Ismail. Taking her place is the explosive Hayley Matthews, whose return adds significant firepower to the top order. Meanwhile, the UP Warriorz, led by Meg Lanning, opted for consistency by fielding an unchanged XI, hoping to maintain the momentum from their recent victory over MI.
The Rise of Kranthi Reddy: Mumbai’s New Secret Weapon
One of the biggest talking points of the toss was the debut of medium-pacer Kranthi Reddy. Stepping in for the unavailable Poonam Khemnar, Reddy arrives with a reputation for being a “player to watch.” MI’s bowling coach and legendary pacer Jhulan Goswami has been vocal about Reddy’s potential, highlighting her unique “slingy” action as a primary reason for her selection.
According to Goswami, Reddy’s accuracy and consistency during domestic trials made her a standout candidate for the WPL stage. Her unconventional delivery style is expected to pose a fresh challenge for the UPW batters, especially during the powerplay overs where early breakthroughs are crucial.
League Standings and Starting XIs
The stakes for this match are high regarding the points table. Currently, Mumbai Indians occupy the second spot, trailing just behind Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Conversely, the UP Warriorz find themselves at the bottom of the pile, making this game a vital opportunity for them to climb the rankings and secure back-to-back wins.
Despite the loss of the toss, Meg Lanning noted that she was confident in her team’s ability to set a competitive total. With stars like Sophie Ecclestone and Deepti Sharma in the mix, UPW has the defensive depth to protect a score, provided their top order can navigate the slingy pace of debutant Reddy.
Mumbai Indians Playing XI: G Kamalini (wk), Hayley Matthews, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Nicola Carey, Sajeevan Sajana, Sanskriti Gupta, Kranthi Reddy, Triveni Vasistha.
UP Warriorz Playing XI: Kiran Navgire, Meg Lanning (capt), Phoebe Litchfield, Harleen Deol, Shweta Sehrawat (wk), Chloe Tryon, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, Asha Sobhana, Shikha Pandey, Kranti Gaud.
