UP Warriorz Beat Mumbai Indians Again, Complete Historic WPL Double

UP Warriorz delivered a crushing 22-run defeat to Mumbai Indians on January 17, 2026, in Navi Mumbai, completing a Women’s Premier League (WPL) league double over the defending champions. This win, powered by captain Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield, and Deepti Pandey, marks a significant turnaround for the Warriorz. They’re now only the second team in WPL history to achieve this feat against MI.

The victory comes after UPW snapped a three-match losing streak with a seven-wicket win against MI just three days prior. That initial triumph kickstarted their season, giving them much needed momentum. For Mumbai Indians, it’s a tough pill to swallow, their third loss of WPL 2026, and their last home game in Navi Mumbai.

Lanning and Litchfield Drive UPW’s Batting Masterclass

Mumbai Indians captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and elected to bowl first against an unchanged UPW side. MI brought in Hayley Matthews and Kranthi Reddy, resting Shabnim Ismail. But the pitch at Navi Mumbai seemed to favor the bat, and UPW quickly made the most of it.

Early on, Nicola Carey dismissed Kiran Navgire for a golden duck with an inswinging yorker. It was Navgire’s fifth golden duck straight. But then Lanning and Phoebe Litchfield stepped up. Lanning, leading from the front, anchored the innings, smashing a pick-up flick for six off Carey and sweeping Nat Sciver-Brunt for boundaries. She hit her fifty inside the powerplay, guiding UPW to a strong 56/1.

Litchfield, promoted up the order, showed her aggressive strokeplay. She drove off Matthews and lofted Kerr for boundaries, proving her value as a top talent. The Australian duo built a crucial 119-run partnership off 76 balls for the second wicket. This partnership laid the foundation for UPW’s imposing total of 187/8 in 20 overs, despite Amelia Kerr’s 3/28 and Sciver-Brunt’s 2/22 at the death.

Mumbai’s Chase Fails to Ignite

Chasing 188, Mumbai Indians’ batting lineup struggled to find rhythm. Their openers couldn’t get going. Sophie Ecclestone caught Hayley Matthews off her own bowling for the first wicket, putting MI on the back foot. MI’s fielding didn’t help, described as “butter-fingered,” missing chances that could’ve slowed UPW’s scoring.

Nat Sciver-Brunt drilled a few shots, and Sajana Sajeevan pulled a six. But Deepti Pandey, with her crucial 2/30, picked up key wickets, keeping the pressure on the defending champions. She dismissed important MI batters, making sure the chase remained out of reach. ESPN’s match report noted MI’s rejigged batting faltered.

Amelia Kerr, with an unbeaten 49*, and Amanjot Kaur, with 41, tried to mount a late fightback. They even built an 83-run sixth-wicket stand. But the asking rate kept climbing. Pandey eventually took Amanjot’s wicket in the penultimate over. Mumbai Indians finished at 165/6, falling 22 runs short.

A Historic Double and Future Prospects

This victory means UP Warriorz have now beaten Mumbai Indians twice this season. It’s a big statement. The Warriorz, captained by Lanning, are only the second team in WPL history to achieve this double over MI, following Delhi Capitals last season. It shows the team’s resurgence after starting their campaign with three losses.

UPW’s success this season, fueled by players like Litchfield, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, and Harleen Deol, positions them well for a deeper tournament run. Coach Abhishek Nayar and Lanning’s decision to promote Litchfield paid off massively, despite opener Kiran Navgire’s ongoing struggles at the top.

For Mumbai Indians, this third loss in WPL 2026 is a setback. Harmanpreet Kaur earlier stressed the need for senior pros like Sciver-Brunt and Kerr to lead the batting. They’ll need to regroup quickly as their title defense faces fresh challenges. This game was MI’s last home fixture in Navi Mumbai, and they’ll want to bounce back strong in their upcoming matches.

Here’s a quick look at the match summary:

The Warriorz showed grit and skill, especially with Lanning’s leadership and Litchfield’s breakout performance. This win validates their strategic changes and puts them firmly back in contention.