WPL 2025: BLR-W vs UP-W — Who will win today’s match?
It is almost the climax in Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025, and the match that has everyone waiting is Match 18-Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (RCB-W) will lock horns with UP Warriorz Women (UP-W) at the Ekana International Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The high-octane tie will kick off at 7:30 PM (IST) on Saturday, March 8, and may be a significant deciding factor in the playoff scenario.
Do-or-Die Battle for RCB
Four consecutive defeats have forced RCB, the defending champions, into a dangerous situation. Smriti Mandhana’s women will have to acquire at least one of the two remaining games in the league stage; otherwise, their chances of making it to the playoffs will die. Another defeat will seal their exit from the tournament altogether.
The defending champion has Ellyse Perry, their star all-rounder, as a shining star in their struggle. So far, she has recorded the second-highest aggregate in the tournament, having scored 295 runs in the six innings, with an astronomical average of 98.33. Her unbeaten score of 90 runs off 56 balls against UP-W in their latest face-off proved her capacity to anchor the innings in almost a one-handed fashion.
Also, the fast bowler Renuka Singh Thakur remains the most consistent performer with the ball this season, having grabbed a total of 10 wickets in six matches at an average of 17.10 and an economy rate of 7.12. She will look to repeat the 2/36 performance from their last faceoff.
UP Warriorz: Playing for Pride and Spoilers
On the other hand, there are UP Warriorz at the bottom of the table. They have just won two games out of the seven they have played. Advancing would be purely mathematical at this juncture, but Deepti Sharma and her side will want to finish with pride.
The biggest incentive would be to spoil the party. A win over RCB might prove just what the doctor ordered for some morale injection into the team while holding out the possibility of crushing Bengaluru’s playoff hopes. The Warriorz have shown that they have the firepower, with Grace Harris and Georgia Voll eager for a statement bout.
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Pitch and Weather Report
With the low bounce of the Ekana International Cricket Stadium, Lucknow’s batting space becomes so challenging, especially in the first innings. Toss would act as a very important factor with the weather reports suggesting clear skies and pleasant conditions. The team winning the toss might prefer to bowl first as on this track, historically, chasing under lights has been the better option. In a nutshell, the team batting second in the BLR-W vs UP-W match may have a better chance of winning the game.
Head to Head Record
- Matches Played:05
- RCB-W Wins: 03
- UP-W Wins: 02
- First-ever Fixture: March 10, 2023
- Most-recent Fixture: February 24, 2025
Probable Playing XIs
Royal Challengers Bangalore Women’s: Smriti Mandhana, Sophie Devine, Ellyse Perry, Raghvi Bist, Richa Ghosh, Kanika Ahuja, Georgia Wareham, Kim Garth, Sneh Rana, Renuka Singh Thakur, and Ekta Bisht.
UP Warriorz Women: Grace Harris, Georgia Voll, Kiran Navgire, Deepti Sharma (c), Vrinda Dinesh, Chinelle Henry, Shweta Sehrawat, and Uma Chetry, Sophie Ecclestone, Gouher Sultana, Kranti Goud.
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Match Prediction: Who Will Win?
Currently, RCB form indicates they slightly lead, but UP-W can surely topple them from that position. So, scenario-based predictions follow:
If RCB-W bowls first: UP-W may set the target to about 130-140. RCB’s batting depth should take care of the chasing without too much fuss.
If UP-W bowl first: RCB would set a target of 140-150. UP would have to bat out of their skins to chase it down.
Prediction: The chasing team is expected to win the match.
The bottom line
The two teams promise to throw in the mix grit, glory, and stakes. What will it be: an RCB comeback in their playoff hopes, or an explosive UP finish to their campaign? Only time will tell!
Be at the forefront of WPL 2025! Share the electric cricket fever that shows every ball, boundary, and wicket in every live cricket match. Mark those reminders for March 8 at 7:30 PM IST to cheer on your favorite.
FAQs
- When and where will the BLR-W and UP-W match be played?
A: The BLR-W and UP-W match will be played on 8th March 2025 at 7 PM IST in Ekana International Cricket Stadium, Lucknow.
- What is the current position of RCB-W in WPL 2025?
A: RCB-W is in a position to survive as it could not win four matches at a stretch, and two more matches remain for playoff qualification.
- Who will be key players to watch in the BLR-W vs UP-W match?
A: From RCB, Ellyse Perry and Renuka Singh Thakur will be key players and from UPW, Deepti Sharma and Grace Harris will be key players to watch.
- What is the head-to-head between RCB-W and UP-W?
A: RCB-W had faced UP-W five times, winning three times while UP-W won two.