Grace Harris Out, Chamari Athapaththu In? UP's Likely XI For WPL 2024 Clash Vs MI


UP Warriorz are going through a challenging phase in the early stages of the Women's Premier League 2024, having stumbled in their first two outings. 

Their campaign kick-started with a narrow defeat against Royal Challengers Bangalore Women by just two runs, a setback compounded by a significant loss to Delhi Capitals Women, who overpowered them by nine wickets.


UP Warriorz searching for first win against MI

As they gear up for their third WPL 2024 match against Mumbai Indians Women on Wednesday, February 28, in Bengaluru, the team finds itself at a critical point as they seek redemption and a much-needed win to revive their campaign.

At the heart of UP Warriorz's struggles is the form of their captain, Alyssa Healy, whose performances with the bat have been underwhelming. Her inability to score runs at the top has been a critical factor in the team's defeats. Healy, a player known for her explosive batting, will be eager to make a significant impact as she opens the innings alongside Vrinda Dinesh.

Dinesh, too, has had a tough start, with her contributions being limited against RCB and DC. Despite the paucity of Indian opening options, it seems likely that Dinesh will be given another opportunity to prove her mettle.

The team's middle-order conundrum is highlighted by the performances of Tahlia McGrath and Grace Harris, who are yet to showcase their actual worth with both bat and ball. 

McGrath's recent outing, where she scored just 1 run and leaked 25 runs in her two overs, shows the need for strategic adjustments. This scenario paves the way for Chamari Athapaththu's potential inclusion, offering a double advantage with her batting and bowling capabilities, possibly in place of either McGrath or Harris.

Despite the top and middle-order woes, Shweta Sehrawat and Kiran Navgire have shown promise, particularly Sehrawat, who was the top scorer in the last match with 45 runs. Their positions at No. 5 and 6 seem secure for the upcoming clash.

The bowling department, spearheaded by Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, Gouher Sultana, and Rajeshwari Gayakwad, is likely to remain unchanged. However, Poonam Khemnar, who has had limited impact in the previous games, might make way for the young all-rounder Parshavi Chopra.

Meanwhile, the upcoming WPL 2024 match presents a critical opportunity for the Warriorz to recalibrate and reignite their campaign, with key players looking to make substantial contributions to steer the team towards a much-needed victory.


UP Warriorz Probable XI vs Mumbai Indians Women

Alyssa Healy (c & wk), Vrinda Dinesh, Tahlia McGrath, Grace Harris, Shweta Sehrawat, Kiran Navgire, Parshavi Chopra, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Gouher Sultana