UP Warriorz Opt to Bowl; MI Reintroduces Sciver-Brunt for Matthews
In a crucial match of the Women’s Premier League 2026, UP Warriorz (UPW) faced off against the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the same venue where they had recently suffered a defeat. UPW, still in search of their first win, opted to bowl after winning the toss. This decision marks a notable trend, with the last 30 toss winners choosing to bowl.
Match Context and Team Changes
UP Warriorz has struggled this season, currently sitting at the bottom of the points table with three consecutive losses. Another defeat could significantly hamper their chances of reaching the playoffs. Captain Meg Lanning expressed hope that bowling first would apply early pressure on the Mumbai side.
In contrast, Mumbai Indians looked to build on their strong start to the tournament, having secured two victories from their last three matches. The team made one notable change for this match: Nat Sciver-Brunt returned to the squad after missing the previous game due to illness, while Hayley Matthews was rested. This lineup adjustment brings four fast bowlers and three spinners into play, along with the part-time bowling options of Harmanpreet Kaur and S Sajana.
Team Lineups
The following players were fielded by both teams:
Mumbai Indians
- G Kamalini (wk)
- Amelia Kerr
- Nat Sciver-Brunt
- Harmanpreet Kaur (capt)
- Nicola Carey
- S Sajana
- Amanjot Kaur
- Poonam Khemnar
- Shabnim Ismail
- Sanskriti Gupta
- Triveni Vasistha
UP Warriorz
- Kiran Navgire
- Meg Lanning (capt)
- Phoebe Litchfield
- Harleen Deol
- Shweta Sehrawat (wk)
- Chloe Tryon
- Deepti Sharma
- Sophie Ecclestone
- Asha Sobhana
- Shikha Pandey
- Kranti Gaud
This match represents a significant opportunity for UP Warriorz to revive their campaign while MI aims to solidify their position in the tournament standings.
