UPW's Bold Deol Retirement Backfires in WPL 2026 Loss

UP Warriorz suffered their third straight defeat in WPL 2026, crumbling to 154/8 against a clinical Delhi Capitals in Navi Mumbai. The late gamble to retire Harleen Deol out at 47 off 36 – with UPW on 141/4 after 17 overs – sparked a shocking collapse, losing six wickets for just 24 runs in the last five overs.

Deol Gamble Triggers Warriorz Meltdown

Harleen Deol was firing on all cylinders, striking at over 130 with seven boundaries, looking every bit the set batter to push UPW past 170 on a flat DY Patil pitch. But captain Meg Lanning, who anchored with a gritty 54 off 38 (9 fours, 1 six), made the high-risk call to send her back for extra firepower. It epitomized the desperation as Shafali Verma's 2/16 and Marizanne Kapp's 2/24 ripped through the lower order. Lisa Sthalekar nailed it post-match: the tactic is pure lottery – sometimes it clicks, sometimes it flops spectacularly.

"Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't." — Lisa Sthalekar on retiring Deol out

Delhi Capitals chased 155 with seven wickets and an over to spare, powered by Lizelle Lee's explosive 67 off 44 (8 fours, 3 sixes) and a match-turning 94-run opening stand with Shafali Verma (36 off 32). Laura Wolvaardt (25* off 24) sealed it on the last ball, while Shafali grabbed Player of the Match honours for her dual impact. Jemimah Rodrigues praised the dugout calm after a tense finish.

UPW's death-over woes – zero boundaries in the final phase – underline their struggles on a batter-friendly track needing 190+ to defend. With Mumbai Indians looming tomorrow, Lanning's side stares down a points table abyss, fifth and pointless.