UP Warriorz Clash with Delhi Capitals: A Battle to End the Drought

Abhishek Nayar sees life as a box of chocolates, always filled with surprises. Reflecting on the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he likened it to a “dark chocolate, 90 percent cocoa. Quite bitter…”

As the head coach of the UP Warriorz, he anticipates a ‘sweeter’ experience in their upcoming Women’s Premier League match against Delhi Capitals—a hope shared by his players.

Despite their potential, the Warriorz fell short against RCB, losing by nine wickets and remaining winless after two games. On Wednesday, in a closed-door match, they aim to secure their first win of the season against Delhi Capitals, who also come off two consecutive losses.

Under new captain Jemimah Rodrigues, the Capitals have shown uninspiring performance. Their Powerplay bowling needs improvement, and the team strategists are eager for things to improve as the tournament continues.

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In a competitive tournament like this, teams cannot waste opportunities. The Capitals need to support young talents N. Shree Charani and Nandini Sharma, who took a hat-trick in the last game.

For the Warriorz, maximizing Powerplay runs is crucial. Nayar acknowledged it was an error in judgment to have Harleen Deol open against RCB; the team must learn from mistakes and formulate a more consistent opening partnership for Meg Lanning, avoiding unnecessary changes.

Their bowling also requires attention. Indian pace duo Kranti Gaud and Shikha Pandey have been underwhelming, and Deandra Dottin, after conceding 32 runs in one over against RCB, needs to recover and deliver key wickets.

Both teams have had a challenging start to the tournament. As a new ‘box of chocolates’ is opened, Warriorz and Capitals hope for sweeter outcomes, without the bitterness of ‘90 percent cocoa’ chocolate.

Published on Jan 13, 2026