What did DC coach Jonathan Batty and UPWs Deepti Sharma have to say post-game?

Match no. 8 of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 witnessed a record-breaking encounter as UP Warriorz secured their first win of the season, defeating two-time runners up Delhi Capitals by 33 runs. This victory disrupted the tournament’s pattern, where the chasing team had emerged victorious in all seven previous matches. Warriorz’s commanding performance was powered by a clinical all-round display, finally breaking their winless streak. On the other hand, the Capitals faltered under pressure, unable to replicate the dominance they had shown earlier in the competition.

Head coach of the losing team Jonathan Batty acknowledged the questions of the press.

Both the teams were playing their first game at the M. Chinnaswamy for the first time in the season, the stadium has been a paradise for batters, courtesy of the pitch and small ground dimensions.

On being interviewed about the pitch from a coach’s perspective, he said, “I think it’s a very different wicket coming from Vadodara where we’ve been for the last week or so. It was a bit of help for the seamers, particularly I thought we bolted really nicely with the new ball, it nipped around a little bit- and if you found that right length, I think batting was actually really difficult. Probably got easier a little bit as the ball got older. Jemimah played well in our innings and Henry was outstanding in the UP Warriors innings.”

The Capitals had a decent start and were bolstered by a spectacular innings in the middle order by Jemimah Rodrigues. However, the opposition kept chipping at regular intervals and got the better of the batting side.

Betty said, “I think it was just one of those evenings. We could’ve been better with put fielding and over the last two years we’ve been absolutely fantastic with that. So, we’re disappointed to have missed a few chances tonight, and that obviously played a part in falling short.”

UP Warriorz were in huge trouble and had lost 7 wickets with just 110 runs on the board, but the evening belonged to Chinelle Henry who scored the joint-fastest half century in the history of the Women’s Premier league. The coach thought that was the phase where they lost their grip from the match.

“Yeah, I think we’re in a really strong position when they were 110 for seven, probably well I imagine her best innings of her life it was absolutely outstanding to watch.”

Betty mentioned that he felt the start of the innings was actually decent, considering the new ball was harder to play against due to some movement. He was not particularly unhappy with how the top order batted, as their situation was quite similar to that of the opposition throughout the innings.

Looking at the runs per over after 18 overs, he pointed out that they were only four runs behind where the other team had been at the same stage. He also highlighted Henry’s innings but emphasized that there was no reason to criticize Meg Lanning and Shafali for their start, as they had been exceptional for the past two and a half years and would continue to be throughout the tournament.

On having an opinion about the middle over phase where the Warriorz were at their best in the game, the head coach said, “Obviously chasing such a big score at the end, there’s pressure on the middle order as soon as they come in. We have Kapp to have a go, trying to score a quick 20 or 30 to keep us going at the right rate, to take that in deeper. I think we’ve got a fantastic middle order and tonight was our night. It’s just unfortunate.”

21-year-old Kranti Goud made a remarkable statement in the WPL with a match-winning spell of 4-0-25-4. Her efforts set the stage for teammate Grace Harris, who capitalized on the pressure she created to deliver an impressive spell of 2.3-0-15-4, which included a sensational hat-trick.

“Yes, so we have video photos of her (Goud) bowling, we have our scouts… So, we talked about what she looks to do to attack, what her variations are. She was really impressive tonight. She found that really good length to hit and that the ball that got Meg Lanning was absolutely fantastic and obviously set us back.”

“I think there’s a really even balance between bat and ball on that wicket. There was some help for the seamers. some spinners bowled really, really nicely as well. And if batters played well, they could obviously score runs. So, I think there are going to be some really nice balanced games, hopefully some close games for the neutral fans as well.”

Winning Captain Deepti Sharma was all smiles in the post-match presser after her team bagged the first two points of the season.

She also had a view on the surface in Bengaluru which was contrasting to the ones used in the first leg of the tournament. She said, “I think there was a little bit of movement and pacers were getting help in the first innings. Today’s surface was completely different from the one in Vadodara.”

Henry turned the patch in a whisker with her monumental sixes, breaking records during the breathtaking knock that shifted the game in the favour of the Warriorz.

“We backed Chinelle Henry to play on her strengths, and you do not require to give inputs to such batter. We were not in a strong position, but we could score 177 because of Henry’s innings.”

Deepti Sharma acknowledged the team’s strong batting lineup but emphasized the need to adapt to pitch conditions when required. She highlighted their highest powerplay score in the previous game and, despite an underwhelming middle-order performance, confirmed that the team would stick with the same batting lineup for the upcoming matches.

“Kranti Goud’s bowling was really impressive, as she is at a nascent stage of career and does not have much experience. She is a keen learner and is well aware of her strategic plans. This was her first four-fer and a captain demands initial breakthroughs – including a dream wicket of Meg Lanning.”

Harris etched her name in history as just the second UP Warriorz bowler to reach this milestone, following captain Deepti Sharma, who accomplished the feat in the last season. Additionally, she became only the third bowler to claim a hat-trick in the Women’s Premier League, with Issy Wong of Mumbai Indians being the first to achieve this remarkable feat in the tournament’s inaugural edition in 2023.

On the same, Sharma shared, “Grace Harris is a golden arm. Whenever we need wickets or the game inches closer, we look up to her. She is a much-involved cricketer and helps other bowlers as well.”

Sharma mentioned that the decision to include an extra pacer was based on the team’s strengths and the pitch conditions, which seemed favorable for movement. She also emphasized the need for the team to address their middle-order batting struggles by focusing on building small partnerships and preventing collapses.

“We wanted a domestic fast bowler and loved her bowling in the MP and Bengal encounter. Love her seam position and movement and is very talented and a big learner. She is extremely relaxed and is not an over-thinker. She has clear plans and that eventually makes the job easier for me as a captain,” she added.

Related Articles