UP Warriorz’s second straight defeat has forced a reset, but the bigger takeaway may be a long-term investment rather than a short-term misstep.
UP Warriorz head coach Abhishek Nayar acknowledged that the opposition-based batting shuffle against Royal Challengers Bengaluru did not work, but framed the match as part of a broader process—one that includes accelerating Shweta Sehrawat’s development as a multi-skill option.
Harleen Deol Move Backfires For UP Warriorz
The move to promote Harleen Deol to open and push Kiran Navgire to No. 4 backfired, with UPW slipping early and never recovering. Nayar took responsibility for the call, conceding that the anticipated swing up front and matchup plans in the middle order did not pan out on the night.
“We felt that with the moving ball at that point, Harleen could add a bit of value in the powerplay,” Abhishek Nayar said after the RCB vs UPW WPL 2026 match.
“She’s obviously technically correct. It didn’t work out today. I felt it turned out to be the wrong decision. I take complete responsibility for it. But I think the thought process behind it was having some solidity up top and then hopefully having that power later on as the pitch gets better, because we anticipated a bit of swing initially.
“I thought those match-ups for Kiran Navgire in the middle would work. Didn’t work today. So I look foolish.”
Shweta Sehrawat’s Wicketkeeping Trial
While the batting order came under scrutiny, UPW’s staff highlighted Sehrawat’s expanding brief as a positive. Traditionally a top-order batter, she has been used in the middle order and handed wicketkeeping duties, a combination Nayar believes could strengthen her pathway to higher honours. The 20-year-old showed flashes of intent with a brisk cameo and has posted strong strike rates in domestic T20s, which the team hopes to translate consistently at the WPL level.
“Giving her the gloves, in my head, was a KL Rahul sort of move, where it brightens her chances of making it to the India squad, especially seeing that there aren’t a lot of options. She’s a tremendous batter with a lot of capability, power and flair,” Nayar explained.
Early Wickets, Limited Room For Roles: Abhishek Nayar
Against RCB, UPW lost four wickets in a brief collapse, leaving little scope for defined roles to take effect. Nayar stressed that in T20 cricket, flexibility is unavoidable when early damage occurs, and outcomes often dictate narratives. “If it had come off, the conversation would be different,” he said, underlining the fine margins behind selection calls.
UP Warriorz remain winless after two games and are bottom in the latest WPL 2026 points table, but the camp appears intent on balancing immediate results with building options for the season.
