The defending champions, Mumbai Indians Women, face the UP Warriorz Women in the 8th match of WPL 2026 at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai on Thursday, January 15. Mumbai will chase a third straight win, while UP Warriorz are desperate for their first victory of the season.
Match details
- Match: Mumbai Indians Women vs UP Warriorz Women — 8th match, WPL 2026
- Date & time: Thursday, January 15 — 7:30 PM IST
- Venue: Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai
- Broadcast: Star Sports Network (TV) | Live stream: JioHotstar
Form guide
Mumbai Indians Women
Mumbai began with a narrow 3-wicket loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru but bounced back. Their recent win chasing 193 against Gujarat Giants showed a new, effective strategy without Nat Sciver-Brunt. Harmanpreet Kaur led the fight, steadying the innings and finishing strongly — MI look confident and balanced.
UP Warriorz Women
UP Warriorz were hammered by RCB in their last game, a nine-wicket defeat that exposed both batting inconsistency and a struggling bowling unit. Deepti Sharma and Deandra Dottin provided some resistance with the bat, but the bowlers managed only one wicket. UPW sit at the base of the table and need a big response.
Pitch report
DY Patil usually offers a balanced surface. Seamers can get movement early, but batting becomes easier once players settle. The outfield is quick, helping boundaries, while spinners often play a role in the middle overs. Expect a competitive total around 170–180 to be strong.
Weather
Conditions should be clear and humid with temperatures between 19–25°C. No rain is forecast, although a cool breeze may be felt in the evening.
Head-to-head (T20)
| Matches played | 7 |
| Wins — Mumbai Indians Women | 5 |
| Wins — UP Warriorz Women | 2 |
| Tied / No result | 0 |
Probable XIs
- Mumbai Indians Women: Nicola Carey, Hayley Matthews, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Amelia Kerr, Poonam Khemnar, Sajeevan Sajana, Gunalan Kamalini (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Sanskriti Gupta, Shabnim Ismail, Triveni Vasistha
- UP Warriorz Women: Meg Lanning (c), Kiran Navgire, Phoebe Litchfield, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Chloe Tryon, Shweta Sehrawat (wk), Asha Sobhana, Sophie Ecclestone, Shikha Pandey, Kranti Gaud
Players to watch
- Harmanpreet Kaur (MI): The Indian captain has been the heartbeat of MI’s batting. After a slow start for the side, Harmanpreet produced successive half-centuries and sits among the tournament’s top scorers. Her form and experience make her the single biggest threat.
- Phoebe Litchfield (UPW): Litchfield tore into the bowling in the opening match with a 78 off 40 balls. If she rediscovers that power and timing, she can change the game quickly and anchor UPW’s chase or set-up a big total.
Toss and match scenarios
Toss trends at DY Patil
- In recent women’s T20s at this venue, captains have preferred to bowl after winning the toss.
- Across 24 previous women’s T20s here, teams batting second have won 14 times while teams batting first have won 8, suggesting a slight advantage for chasing sides.
Possible match scenarios
- Scenario A — Team wins toss and bowls: Early seam movement restricts runs in powerplay (40–50), the bowling side keeps the scoreboard in check, and a total of 160–175 is defended successfully.
- Scenario B — Team wins toss and bats: A strong powerplay (45–60) sets platform for 170–185; bowlers who adapt to the surface in the middle overs can turn the match around.
Verdict
Mumbai Indians Women start as favourites. Their recent win, depth in batting and bowling, and positive head-to-head record against UP Warriorz give them the edge. UP Warriorz have the pieces — particularly Litchfield and Deepti Sharma — to cause an upset if their bowlers find form and the batters click. Expect a competitive contest, but Mumbai look likeliest to continue their momentum.