Gujarat Giants, revitalized by successive wins for the first time in three WPL seasons, are set to face table-toppers Delhi Capitals on Friday, March 8th. This match is crucial for both teams as it falls in their penultimate round-robin fixture of the season.
After a shaky start with three defeats in the first half of WPL 2025, the Giants seemed to be repeating their pattern from the previous two editions. However, impressive back-to-back victories against Royal Challengers Bengaluru and UP Warriorz have propelled them to second place in the points table after six games. For the first time in their history, the Giants have a genuine opportunity to secure a playoff berth.
The Giants’ batting order has finally found stability after some initial adjustments. Key players like Harleen Deol and Ash Gardner have regained their form, and Beth Mooney’s remarkable unbeaten 96 against UP Warriorz has further strengthened their batting lineup. This is a welcome sign for the Giants, who have struggled with opening partnerships.
In bowling, the less experienced duo of Kashvee Gautam and Tanuja Kanwer are leading the pace and spin attacks, respectively. Despite an expensive start against RCB, Gautam has impressed with her swing bowling in the PowerPlay and smart variations at the death. She currently holds the best economy rate of 5.30 and is the second-highest wicket-taker with nine wickets at an average of 11.77. The Giants’ bowling unit is strong, with four bowlers having taken at least seven wickets, including all-rounders Gardner and Deandra Dottin. They will rely on their bowling to make early breakthroughs against the Capitals’ strong opening partnership.
Delhi Capitals, who are likely to secure a playoff spot as in the previous two seasons, will be aiming for a direct path to the final. After an inconsistent first half, DC have found their peak form, demonstrated by dominant wins against MI and RCB in Bengaluru.
Despite the temptation to rest players for their last league game, DC are expected to field their strongest XI, having had a week’s rest. If they achieve a third consecutive WPL final entry, their challenge will be maintaining momentum during another week-long break before the final on March 15th.
Match Details
When: Friday, March 8 at 7:30 PM IST
Where: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
Team News
Delhi Capitals
The top-ranked Capitals are expected to maintain their winning team combination even after qualifying for the playoffs.
Probable XI: Shafali Verma, Meg Lanning (C), Jess Jonassen, Jemimah Rodrigues, Marizanne Kapp, Annabel Sutherland, Sarah Bryce (wk), Niki Prasad, Shikha Pandey, Minnu Mani, Nallapureddy Charani
Gujarat Giants
Following two consecutive wins, the Giants may also opt for an unchanged XI.
Probable XI: Beth Mooney (wk), Dayalan Hemalatha, Harleen Deol, Ashleigh Gardner (C), Phoebe Litchfield, Deandra Dottin, Kashvee Gautam, Bharti Fulmali, Meghna Singh, Tanuja Kanwar, Priya Mishra
