UP Warriorz exited WPL 2025 in dramatic fashion, taking defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru down with them. As a result, Gujarat Giants have secured their first-ever playoffs berth, joining Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians. However, the battle for the top spot remains wide open.
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Warriorz Set Records, But RCB’s Late Surge Adds Drama
UP Warriorz posted the tournament’s highest total, powered by Georgia Voll’s unbeaten 99—matching the WPL’s joint-highest individual score. Yet, their commanding total was nearly chased down as Richa Ghosh and Sneh Rana sparked a thrilling fightback.
Ghosh blazed 69 off 33 balls, but her dismissal with RCB needing 55 from 3.4 overs left them in trouble. The game took another twist when Deepti Sharma, who had removed Ghosh, conceded a record-breaking 28 runs in the 19th over—the most in WPL history. Rana unleashed a stunning assault, smashing 4, 6, 6, 4, 6 to bring the equation down to 15 off the last seven balls.
Adding to the drama, one of the fours came off a no-ball. Even more intriguingly, before that delivery, Deepti stopped mid-stride as Kim Garth backed up too far at the non-striker’s end but chose not to run her out.
Voll’s Heroics and Rana’s Late Blitz Define a Thrilling Finish
Sneh Rana’s sensational hitting nearly pulled off a stunning heist, but her magic ended when she drilled a flat shot straight to Poonam Khemnar at deep midwicket—the very player RCB had released before the auction. That dismissal, leaving RCB nine down, proved the knockout blow for the defending champions. UP Warriorz sealed the win in the final over, running out Renuka Singh to complete the dramatic finish.
Fittingly, Georgia Voll—who may have feared her brilliant knock would go in vain—delivered the final over. She started with two dot balls, all but shutting the door on RCB before the decisive run-out. It was a remarkable conclusion to Voll’s maiden WPL campaign, which saw her fly to India on short notice, cutting short home renovations in Queensland.
Brought in as a replacement for Chamari Athapaththu, Voll proved her potential as a long-term asset. Despite Warriorz managing only three wins in eight games, her standout performances provided a silver lining for the franchise.
Voll and Harris Run Riot in a Powerplay Onslaught
Fresh off an impressive stint for Australia in Alyssa Healy’s absence, Georgia Voll made an equally strong impact in the WPL. Just three nights after scoring a half-century on debut, she elevated her game alongside Grace Harris, as UP Warriorz went on an all-out assault in the powerplay. Their explosive start saw them rack up 13 boundaries—the second-most in this phase in WPL history.
Voll showcased her dominant back-foot play, a skill honed on Queensland’s bouncy pitches. She expertly manipulated the backward point region with precise placement while also unleashing raw forearm power and a strong bottom hand to whip the ball fiercely in front of square.
At the other end, Harris was at her innovative best, scooping and paddling her way to boundaries. She capitalized on the loose deliveries from RCB’s new-ball duo of Kim Garth and Renuka Singh, punishing every mistake. By the end of six overs, Warriorz had stormed to 67 for 0—the highest powerplay score of the season.
Navgire Fires as Warriorz Push Past 200
RCB got an early breakthrough after the powerplay with Grace Harris’ run-out, but Kiran Navgire wasted no time making an impact. She announced herself in style, smashing her second ball—off Ellyse Perry—over the deep square leg boundary before taking on legspinner Georgia Wareham for back-to-back sixes in the following over.
At the other end, Georgia Voll continued her dream run, bringing up her second consecutive fifty in 31 balls by dispatching a full toss to the deep midwicket fence. With both batters dominating spin, Smriti Mandhana turned to Renuka Singh in the 12th over, but the move backfired. Navgire unleashed a brutal assault, taking 22 runs off the over with a sequence of 4, 2, 4, 0, 6, 6—her effortless power making light work of length deliveries.
Between overs 9-12, the Warriorz plundered 64 runs, setting their sights on a total beyond 200. While RCB clawed back with late wickets, dismissing Navgire, Chinelle Henry, and Sophie Ecclestone, Voll kept charging towards what would have been the WPL’s first-ever century. However, she fell agonizingly short, stranded on 99, as a desperate attempt for a second run off the last ball resulted in Deepti Sharma’s run-out instead of her landmark moment.
RCB Fight Till the End but Fall Short
Smriti Mandhana’s early dismissal to a tame pull was a setback, but RCB refused to back down. Making her first appearance of the season, S Meghana set the tone with an explosive 22-run burst off Grace Harris’ second over. Ellyse Perry quickly found her rhythm too, racing to three consecutive boundaries off Chinelle Henry—each showcasing her class. She expertly cut a short ball, flicked a full toss to fine leg, and then unleashed a fierce pull.
However, RCB’s aggressive approach came at a cost, as both Meghana and Perry fell after promising cameos. Their departures left a mountain for Richa Ghosh to climb, and she almost did it single-handedly. Displaying incredible range, Ghosh manipulated the crease to pull, loft, and flat-bat the ball into gaps with clinical precision. Her 64-run sixth-wicket partnership with Georgia Wareham kept RCB in the hunt, but as the equation boiled down, it became a case of Ghosh or nothing.
When she departed, RCB’s hopes faded—but Sneh Rana wasn’t done yet. With a stunning late assault, she nearly pulled off an improbable heist. However, the fairytale finish wasn’t to be, as RCB ultimately fell agonizingly short, crashing out of the tournament in dramatic fashion.
FAQs
How did UP Warriorz eliminate Royal Challengers Bengaluru from WPL 2025?
UP Warriorz knocked out RCB in a thrilling contest, securing victory in the final over. This loss also confirmed Gujarat Giants’ maiden playoffs qualification.
What records did Georgia Voll break in WPL 2025?
Georgia Voll smashed an unbeaten 99, equaling the WPL’s highest individual score, and helped Warriorz post the tournament’s highest total of the season.
How did Richa Ghosh and Sneh Rana nearly pull off a chase for RCB?
Richa Ghosh’s blistering 69 off 33 and Sneh Rana’s record-breaking 28-run over brought RCB close, but they fell short in the final over.
What role did Kiran Navgire play in UP Warriorz’s innings?
Navgire provided a late flourish with massive sixes, accelerating the run rate as Warriorz posted a dominant 200+ total.
Why was S Meghana’s performance significant for RCB?
Making her season debut, Meghana’s explosive 22-run knock in a single over set the tone for RCB’s aggressive chase, though they ultimately fell short.
