UP Warriorz tackle Mumbai Indians in a high-stakes TATA WPL 2026 clash today, pitting captain Meg Lanning against Harmanpreet Kaur's resurgent side. Mithali Raj and Kate Cross dissected Kaur's chasing dominance and lineup dilemmas, Deepti Sharma's matchup challenge, Lanning's timely fifty and opener woes with Kiran Navgire.
Speaking on ‘Match Centre Live’, JioStar expert Mithali Raj assessed UP Warriorz's chances against a resurgent Mumbai Indians:
"On paper, UP Warriorz are the team to beat MI, but they must deliver on the field. MI lost their opener, but bounced back strongly in the last two games. Harmanpreet Kaur anchored the batting despite Nat Sciver- Brunt’s absence."
On Deepti Sharma vs Harmanpreet Kaur matchup:
"UP Warriorz emphasize matchups, and Deepti Sharma is their most experienced option alongside Sophie Ecclestone. She's got Harman out before, but Harman's in top form against off-spinners with a high strike rate—process might lead to dismissal, but her skill stands. Ashleigh Gardner avoided bowling her last game for that reason. It’s a crucial matchup, though not guaranteed to work on these night wickets, especially if Harman chases—she’s calculative with bowlers and resources."
On Kiran Navgire as Meg Lanning's opening partner:
"Show faith in Kiran Navgire—she scored 50s opening for UP Warriorz last season, proving she can bat. She just needs to take time, choose the right lengths for her shots. Right now, she's rushing into big shots without effort, which doesn't always work even on flat tracks—you need at least 10-20 balls to settle."
Speaking on ‘Match Centre Live’, JioStar expert Kate Cross previewed Harmanpreet Kaur's run-chase prowess and Mumbai Indians' batting dilemmas:
"If Harmanpreet Kaur chases against UPW, she can’t stop scoring—she’s so talented in run chases. As a captain, that’s vital. She loves this tournament and MI, delivering success with the bat even after jostling the batting order. Interesting to see today’s lineup if Nat Sciver-Brunt recovers from illness—Harman faces a tough call on who to drop."
On UP Warriorz captain Meg Lanning's timely half-century and its impact:
"Scoring her first 50 of the tournament is crucial for Meg Lanning. It wasn't her fluent best, but she stayed on and accumulated runs. She's not one to lose confidence quickly; her stats show she's never far from big runs. Passing 1,000 WPL runs as only the second or third player boosts her and the team. If they protect in-form batters, they could post 170-180, easing the bowlers' task."
