WPL 2026: Why UP Warriorz are wearing a different jersey against Mumbai Indians? - Explained

The UP Warriorz are set to dedicate a special match during the ongoing Women's Premier League (WPL) season to advocating free, flexible, and lifelong education for girls. On Saturday, January 17, the UP Warriorz will square off against the Mumbai Indians at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.

The wonderful initiative is being facilitated by the Warriorz' current partnership with Educate Girls, a grassroots organisation working for the underprivileged sections of society, aiming to improve access to education for girls.

One of the key areas the partnership is focusing on is highlighting the need for open schooling, which will provide a platform for girls who have had to leave formal education due to unfavourable social, economic, or personal circumstances to resume studies.

Educate Girls currently works across 12 states to strengthen the open schooling ecosystem and is working towards its ambitious 10x10 goal of reaching 10 million learners in 10 years, reinforcing education as a lifelong opportunity rather than a one-time pathway.

"At UP Warriorz, we believe sport has the power to shape conversations that extend far beyond the game. This special match reflects our belief that education should adapt to life, not the other way around. Through our partnership with Educate Girls, we hope to normalise second chances in education and remind every girl that her learning journey does not have to end because life took a different turn," Jinisha Sharma, Director, Capri Sports, said about the noble initiative.

To mark the special occasion, the UP Warriorz' players will be sporting a limited-edition jersey in their game against the Mumbai Indians. Designed in collaboration with renowned artist Harun Robert, popularly known as Rob, the jersey features excerpts from handwritten letters penned by girls associated with Educate Girls. These notes are messages they have written to their future selves, making the jersey the embodiment of dreams, hopes, and ambition.

"When girls see their dreams reflected on a platform as powerful as the WPL, it sends a powerful message that their voices and their aspirations matter. This partnership with UP Warriorz helps reframe education as a lifelong promise, not a one-time event, and shows that with flexible, accessible, second-chance programs, learning can begin, pause, and restart at any stage of a girl's life," Speaking about the association, Safeena Husain, Founder and Board Member, Educate Girls, mentioned.

The UP Warriorz, led by Meg Lanning, recently played against the Mumbai Indians and picked up their first win of the season after starting the campaign with a hat-trick of losses. A win on Saturday will help the Warriorz move up from the bottom of the table. On the other hand, defending champions Mumbai are placed at No. 2 on the points table, with two wins and as many defeats from four matches.