WPL 2026: What’s going wrong for UP Warriorz?

• UP Warriorz face Delhi Capitals; Lanning vs former team & Rodrigues vs ex-skipper.
• Rodrigues' batting-captaincy pressure is key; UPW opening woes need fixing.
• Lanning's tactical edge against Shafali a test; UPW needs to click urgently.

UP Warriorz face Delhi Capitals in Match 7 of TATA WPL 2026, with Meg Lanning taking on her former side and new DC Captain Jemimah Rodrigues facing her ex-skipper. Anjum Chopra and Katey Martin analyzed

Rodrigues' batting-captaincy pressures, UPW's opening struggles, Lanning's tactical plans against familiar foes like Shafali Verma, and both teams' urgent need to click. Speaking on Match Centre Live, JioStar expert Anjum Chopra examined the pressures facing Captain-batter Jemimah Rodrigues: "Jemimah Rodrigues is a quality player and person. The main thing she needs to focus on right now is how she will contribute with the bat in any situation. As a captain on the field, she will make decisions, but she has help from Laura Wolvaardt, Lizelle Lee, Marizanne Kapp, and others during breaks. So, I am not too worried about her captaincy decisions. What interests me more is how Jemimah, as a batter who is also the captain, handles that pressure. That is the bigger challenge." On concerns over UP Warriorz's unsettled opening combination alongside Meg Lanning: "The expectation for Meg Lanning to perform with the bat is always there because she is such a quality player. That is fair. My concern is who will open with her. First it was Kiran Navgire, then Harleen Deol. I read that coach Abhishek Nayar said it was his fault it didn't work. It is not about the decision, but about players grabbing those chances. Opening is the best spot in a T20. If a player gets that chance, they should take it, regardless of who is at the other end. This is something UP Warriorz need to fix. Whoever opens, they just need runs." Speaking on Match Centre Live, JioStar expert Katey Martin compared the new captaincy era of Jemimah Rodrigues at Delhi Capitals with the challenge facing Meg Lanning at UP Warriorz: "A lot of what Jemimah Rodrigues has learned over the years came from Meg Lanning, who was captain of the Delhi Capitals when Jemimah was vice-captain. It was a big decision by the DC team management to move on from Lanning. Now, she’s a part of the UP Warriorz and she has new players playing under her leadership. On paper, UP Warriorz should be one of the best teams. They just haven't clicked yet, especially with the ball. They've struggled in the powerplay with different options. A great innings from RCB's Grace Harris took the game away from them last time. Meg Lanning is a calm character who has been in these situations often. She'll be thinking about how to use her resources differently and how to get the best out of world-class players like Deepti Sharma and Sophie Ecclestone. I am sure she will find a way." On Shafali Verma's biggest test of facing her former captain Meg Lanning's tactical plans: "Shafali Verma has come into season four of the WPL in good form, but she has failed to get going with the bat. We are seeing a different version of her this season. This will be her biggest test in a long time. Remember, Meg Lanning is the former Captain of Delhi Capitals. She knows Shafali well and taught her a lot about how to play. So, UP Warriorz will have good plans against her. Maybe the tempo between her and Lizelle Lee is putting her off a little. She might be unsure about whether she should attack or not, what shots to play? But she is such a quality striker when she gets going. She just needs to give herself the chance to get started." On UP Warriorz’s need to start firing soon: "I do like UP Warriorz when they get going. I like Phoebe Litchfield as a batter. I think Delhi Capitals' bowlers actually suit her style, especially the extra pace up front. That will suit Meg Lanning as well. Delhi Capitals have surprised me a little with how they've played. But you expect a team like UP Warriorz, with Meg Lanning in charge, to click soon. They know they are not desperate yet, but they really need to get going in this tournament."