Harleen Deol Fires UP Warriorz to First WPL 2026 Victory
Twenty-four hours can change everything in cricket. A day after a controversial retirement at 47 runs left her frustrated, Harleen Deol exploded with a brilliant unbeaten 64 off just 39 balls. Her stunning innings powered UP Warriorz to a convincing seven-wicket win over Mumbai Indians at the DY Patil Stadium on Thursday night.
Redemption Knock Silences Critics
Harleen Deol sent a strong message to her critics with this match-winning performance. UP Warriorz head coach Abhishek Nayar had retired her out on 47 in the previous game. This time, Deol answered with pure class. She hammered 12 beautifully timed fours in her knock. Nayar applauded each shot from the dugout, but Deol's bat did all the talking.
This victory marked UP Warriorz's first win in WPL 2026 after three straight defeats. They remain at the bottom of the five-team table, but this win provides crucial momentum. Mumbai Indians now hold second place with two wins and two losses.
Masterclass in Timing and Placement
Harleen Deol is not a power-hitter. She relies on exquisite timing and precise gap-finding. The 27-year-old Indian batter proved this again against MI. Her first three scoring shots were boundaries. Ten of her twelve fours raced through the off-side field.
Determined to prove her worth, the 2025 ODI World Cup winner built two key partnerships. She added 73 runs in 49 balls with Australian Phoebe Litchfield for the third wicket. Then, she shared an unbroken 44-run stand with South African all-rounder Chloe Tryon in just 20 balls. UP Warriorz chased down the 162-run target with 11 balls to spare.
Chloe Tryon's All-Round Impact
Chloe Tryon played a vital supporting role with both bat and ball. She remained not out on 27 from just 11 balls, hitting four fours and a six. Her late fireworks ensured a comfortable finish. Earlier, Tryon took two important catches in the field.
Her diving effort at square leg to dismiss MI captain Harmanpreet Kaur proved decisive. Kaur, the current top run-scorer in WPL 2026, fell for just 16 runs. This wicket broke MI's momentum at a crucial stage.
Mumbai Indians' Innings: A Tale of Two Halves
Mumbai Indians struggled early with the bat. Openers Amanjot Kaur and Gunalan Kamalini managed only 43 runs in 44 balls. They scored just 32 runs in the Powerplay, the lowest in WPL 2026 so far. UP Warriorz bowlers maintained tight lines, with Shikha Pandey and Kranti Goud delivering excellent opening spells.
Both openers eventually fell trying to accelerate. MI crawled to 54 for two after 10 overs. Then, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Nicola Carey ignited the innings. Returning from illness, Sciver-Brunt played a captain's knock of 65 off 43 balls, hitting nine fours and a six.
She found perfect support from Australian all-rounder Nicola Carey, who smashed 32 off 20 balls. Their 85-run partnership came in just 44 balls. This late surge helped MI plunder 93 runs from the last eight overs after scoring only 68 in the first twelve.
The English-Australian duo particularly targeted the 15th and 16th overs, scoring 33 runs. Sciver-Brunt took 17 runs off Asha Shobana in the 15th over, while Carey hit four boundaries off Tryon in the 16th. Their efforts lifted MI to a competitive total of 161 for five.
What This Win Means
UP Warriorz finally have points on the board. Harleen Deol's redemption innings provides them with much-needed confidence. For Mumbai Indians, this loss highlights their dependence on key players like Harmanpreet Kaur and Nat Sciver-Brunt. The Women's Premier League continues to deliver thrilling contests as teams jostle for playoff positions.
