Harleen Deol delivered a strong on-field response to controversy by smashing an unbeaten 64 to guide UP Warriorz to their first win of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026, just a day after being “retired out” in the previous match. Her match-winning innings powered the Warriorz to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over the Mumbai Indians, snapping a three-match losing streak in the tournament.

Deol, who was named Player of the Match, addressed the retired-out episode after the win, downplaying the incident and insisting there was no reason to dwell on it. She said she was batting well even in the previous game and viewed the tactical call as part of the team strategy. Referring to teammate Chloe Tryon’s ability to change games quickly, Deol noted that such decisions are taken in the team’s best interest and do not always work as planned.

Reflecting on her approach, Deol said nothing changed drastically in her preparation, apart from reading the conditions better. She admitted that in earlier matches she tried to overhit but realized the wicket was not suited for that approach. Instead, she focused on timing and shot selection, capitalizing on boundary opportunities as they came. Her composed knock included 12 boundaries and came off just 39 balls.

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UP Warriorz Captain Meg Lanning praised Deol’s maturity and highlighted the team’s improved consistency after early setbacks in the season. Lanning said the squad had shown positive signs in previous matches but lacked consistency, adding that internal discussions helped restore belief and confidence. She also revealed that she had spoken to Deol after the previous game, praising how calmly she handled the situation and expressing hope that the innings would boost her confidence.

Mumbai Indians Captain Harmanpreet Kaur felt her side fell slightly short of a competitive total, suggesting that 180 would have been par on the surface. She acknowledged that batting first was challenging and said dew later aided the chase. Harmanpreet credited Deol for her composed innings and added that the match provided valuable exposure to younger bowlers despite the loss.

Chasing a target of 162, UP Warriorz reached the total in 18.1 overs, registering their first win of WPL 2026. The result marked a turning point for Abhishek Nayar’s side, with Deol’s calm and confident knock standing out as both a statement performance and a timely response to the debate surrounding her earlier retirement.

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