UP Warriorz head coach Abhishek Nayar has taken full responsibility for the batting-order reshuffle that backfired during his team’s clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026.
The tactical move, aimed at countering early movement with the new ball, failed to deliver, resulting in UP Warriorz suffering their second consecutive defeat of the season.
The decision saw Harleen Deol promoted to open the innings, while regular opener Kiran Navgire was pushed down the order to No. 4.
Nayar explained that the idea was driven by match-up considerations and Deol’s technical ability against swing bowling.
However, the plan unravelled quickly as UP Warriorz struggled to build momentum at the top.
Deol found scoring difficult against RCB pacer Lauren Bell, consuming several deliveries without getting off the mark.
Her dismissal set the tone for a difficult innings, as the Warriorz were unable to recover early initiative. Navgire, who entered later than usual, also failed to make an impact, departing cheaply and triggering a damaging collapse.
UP Warriorz lost four wickets for just 11 runs, slipping to 50 for five and placing themselves under significant pressure. Despite the early setbacks, a late recovery led by Deepti Sharma and Deandra Dottin helped stabilize the innings.
The pair put together an unbeaten partnership to lift the team to 143 for five, a total that ultimately proved below par against a strong RCB batting lineup.
Following the match, Nayar openly admitted that the reshuffle did not work as intended. He emphasized that the responsibility lay entirely with him and not the players.
“We believed the conditions could help Harleen in the powerplay, but the call didn’t come off,” Nayar said, acknowledging that flexibility can sometimes carry risks in the shortest format.
The UP Warriorz coach also played down the idea that the batting order alone caused the collapse, suggesting that better execution was needed during the critical phase of the innings.
He reiterated his belief in adaptability and backed his players to respond positively in the upcoming matches.
With the WPL season still in its early stages, UP Warriorz will be eager to regroup and find consistency.
Nayar’s candid assessment reflects the team management’s willingness to learn from setbacks as they look to get their campaign back on track.
