4 min read Last Updated : Jan 10 2026 | 2:45 PM IST
The WPL 2026 season moves into its second match today, but the energy around this contest feels like a fresh kickoff for both UP Warriorz and Gujarat Giants, who are opening their campaign in WPL 2026 with fresh squads after the mega auction. UP Warriorz skiper Meg Lanning wins the toss of the match and invited Ashley Gardner-led Gujarat Giants to bat first.
GG vs UPW playing 11 today: GG playing 11: Sophie Devine, Beth Mooney(w), Ashleigh Gardner(c), Georgia Wareham, Anushka Sharma, Kanika Ahuja, Bharti Fulmali, Kashvee Gautam, Tanuja Kanwar, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh Thakur UPW playing 11: Deandra Dottin, Phoebe Litchfield, Meg Lanning (C), Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Kiran Navgire, Shweta Sehrawat, Sophie Ecclestone, Asha Sobhana, Shikha Pandey, Kranti Gaud
In terms of form, UP Warriorz endured a season of instability last year, slipping to a bottom-place finish after earlier campaigns that saw them end third and fourth. UP’s roster still shows pressure points, especially with a solitary specialist wicketkeeper. That puts more emphasis on role fluidity across the batting unit. Litchfield opening alongside Kiran offers a left-right template, while Harleen and Lanning must orchestrate the middle overs and set up totals. Ecclestone and Deepti continue to form UP’s bowling core, offering spin dominance, with pace playing supporting roles.
Gujarat Giants will begin their season with steadier belief. Beth Mooney’s return after missing 2025 restores structure as opener and wicketkeeper. Renuka Singh Thakur leads a balanced pace group with Garth and Gautam. Gardner and Wareham headline a multi-option spin attack alongside Gayakwad and Kanwar. Giants lost the chance to play the final last season when they lost to Mumbai Indians in the eliminator, something they would want to improve upon in 2026.
With all that in mind, let’s take a look at how their head-to-head encounters have panned out over the years.
Gujarat Giants vs UP Warriorz: head-to-head in WPL
Match Type
Season (WPL)
Winning Team (Score)
Losing Team (Score)
Date
Venue
3rd Match
2023
UP Warriorz (175-7)
Gujarat Giants (169-6)
Mar 5, 2023
DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai
17th Match
2023
UP Warriorz (181-7)*
Gujarat Giants (178-6)
Mar 20, 2023
Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai
8th Match
2024
UP Warriorz (143-4)
Gujarat Giants (142-5)
Mar 1, 2024
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium
18th Match
2024
Gujarat Giants (152-8)
UP Warriorz (144-5)
Mar 11, 2024
Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
3rd Match
2025
Gujarat Giants (144-4)
UP Warriorz (143-9)
Feb 16, 2025
BCA Stadium, Kotambi
15th Match
2025
Gujarat Giants (186-5)
UP Warriorz (105)
Mar 3, 2025
Ekana Stadium, Lucknow
WPL 2023
In the opening season of the WPL, i.e. WPL 2023, Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz faced each other twice in the group stage, with UP Warriorz ending on the winning side on both occasions. The two wins helped UP Warriorz secure the eliminator spot, where they lost to eventual winners Mumbai Indians, while Gujarat finished at the bottom of the points table.
WPL 2024
The two sides faced each other two times in the group stages again in WPL 2024. UP Warriorz won the first game to complete their hat-trick of wins against Gujarat. However, Gujarat finally ended the streak by winning their second encounter of the season. The season was forgettable for both sides as UP finished fourth after the group stages, while Gujarat once again finished last.
WPL 2025
WPL 2025 was a mirror image of WPL 2023 for these two teams, as once again they faced each other only twice in the group stages, but this time it was Gujarat Giants who won on both occasions to take their head-to-head record to 3-3. Gujarat finished third after losing the eliminator to eventual winners Mumbai Indians, while this time it was UP Warriorz who finished last in the points table after the group stages.