Click it and Unblock the Notifications
UP-W vs GUJ-W injury update, team news
UP Warriorz injury update, key players in WPL 2023
UP Warriorz have no injury concerns reported ahead of their tournament opener and are among few sides in the competition, who are spoilt for choices, giving skipper Alyssa Healy a sweet headache on the team selection.
Sophie Ecclestone or Grace Harris?
UP Warriorz's top order seems sorted with Healy and Shweta Sehrawat as the openers followed by Kiran Navgire and Tahlia McGrath. Vice-captain Deepti Sharma is likely to bat at No. 5.
However, things turn interesting from this point onwards as the team management will have to take crucial call on whether to play Women's T20 World Cup's top wicket-taker Sophie Ecclestone or one of the best pinch-hitter of women's cricket in Grace Harris.
While Grace Harris's inclusion seems essential as she bolsters the batting strength in the closing stages of innings, Ecclestone's wicket-taking abilities are too hard to ignore.
However, the side has considerable amount of spin bowlers in their arsenal along with Deepti, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Parshavi Chopra, Simran Saikh among other options.
Laxmi Yadav is expected to take the responsibility of glovework while one of Anjali Sarvani and S Yashasri may find a spot in the 11 as Indian pacer.
However, if the conditions favour playing multiple pacers, the team management may opt for both of them at the cost of a spinner.
Who will be overseas pacer?
As far as an overseas pacer is concerned, the battle for the spot is between England's Lauren Bell and South African Shabnim Ismail with the latter's recent form at the World Cup making her a hot favourite for the spot.
Gujarat Giants women injury update, team news
Gujarat Giants captain Beth Mooney was injured during the last game and is likely to miss Sunday's match as well. Vice-captain Sneh Rana is to lead the team if Mooney doesn't play.
Sophie Dunkley like to replace Beth Mooney
If Mooney's injury is too serious, it could jeopardise Gujarat Giants further as the franchise is built around foreign players while big Indian names were not bought at the auction.
The lack of indigenous quality names did hurt the franchise against Mumbai Indians as the Ahmedabad-based franchise conceded 207 runs and then were bundled out for 65 runs by the 16th over.
English opener Sophie Dunkley, who had an off-colour T20 World Cup, is likely to start the innings with S Meghana. Since Dunkley can bowl as well, Tanuja Kanwar could be dropped from the team to fit in Sushma Verma as the wicketkeeper.
No depth among Indian players
Likes of Harleen Deol and Sneh Rana are unlikely to be dropped from the team despite an unimpressive display in the last game.
Deol was out for a duck while Rane was entrusted with just two overs after going for 17 runs in the powerplay.
Australia's World Cup winners Ashleigh Gardner and Annabel Sutherland too are going to keep their places in the playing 11. Gardner, considered among the best spinners in the world, went for 38 runs in her four overs for a wicket and then was out for a duck in the middle order.
Fast-bowling all-rounder Sutherland gave away 32 runs in three overs before scoring just 6 with the bat.
Among other crucial players in the team, vice captain Sneh Rana took two wickets but gave away 42 runs as well. She could only contribute a run with the bat as her innings folded in just two deliveries.
Middle-order batter D Hemalatha was the only batter who could spend some time in the middle with an innings of 29 runs off 23 balls.
Lack of quality among Indian pacers
However, the lack of quality in pace was evident with Monica Patel and Mansi giving away 51 runs in four over combined.
Monica in particular was taken for plenty and the franchise may consider fast-bowling all-rounder Kim Garth in the line-up to fill that gulf in quality.
This could also mean spin all-rounder Georgia Wareham could have to sit out of the team.
UP Warriorz vs Gujarat Giants predicted playing XI UP-W vs GUJ-W, WPL 2023
UP Warriorz predicted playing 11 vs Gujarat Giants Alyssa Healy (C), Shweta Sehrawat, Kiran Navgire, Tahlia McGrath, Deepti Sharma, Simran Shaikh, Grace Harris/Sophie Ecclestone, Parshavi Chopra, Laxmi Yadav (WK), Anjali Sarvani/S Yashasri, Lauren Bell/Shabnim Ismail
Gujarat Giants predicted playing 11 vs UP Warriorz Sophia Dunkley, S Meghana, Harleen Deol, Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, D Hemalatha, Kim Garth/Georgia Wareham, Sushma Verma (WK), Sneh Rana (C), Tanuja Kanwar/Monica Patel, Mansi Joshi
UP Warriorz vs Gujarat Giants pitch report UP-W vs GUJ-W
The new ball will allow some movement, allowing the pacers to find some early purchases. However, the DY Patil pitch would be highly conducive for batting once the shine of the ball is gone.
There is not much help expected for the spinners yet but Saika Ishaque showed the other night that spinners could be effective if they vary their line and length well.
UP-W vs GUJ-W Dream11 prediction UP Warriorz vs Gujarat Giants
Wicketkeeper A Healy
Batter T McGrath, S Dunkley, S Sehrawat
All-rounder S Ecclestone, D Sharma, A Sutherland, A Gardner, S Rana
Bowler S Ismail, R Gayakwad
Captain and vice-captain choices A Healy and T McGrath are good choices for captains while A Gardner is in good form irrespective of her not-so-impressive display in the last game.
