The high-stakes world of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) often comes down to tactical gambles, and for UP Warriorz (UPW), a recent roll of the dice didn’t go as planned. Following a narrow 10-run defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), UPW assistant coach Abhishek Nayar stepped up to take full responsibility for a batting order shuffle that backfired under the lights.
The decision to move Harleen Deol to the opening slot while pushing the explosive Kiran Navgire down to No. 4 was the main talking point. The logic, according to Nayar, was to provide technical “solidity” against the initial swing of the new ball. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t match the intent. Deol struggled through a 14-ball stay, facing nine dot balls before falling for a duck, while Navgire managed only 5 before being caught in the deep.
Tactical Gamble: Why the Warriorz Shuffled the Pack
Nayar explained that the move was purely “opposition-based,” designed to protect the power hitters for later in the innings when the pitch was expected to flatten out. “We felt that with the moving ball, Harleen could add value in the powerplay. She’s technically correct,” Nayar admitted after the match. “It didn’t work out today… I look foolish.”
The middle-order collapse saw UPW slip to a precarious 50 for 5, losing four wickets for just 11 runs. While Deepti Sharma and Deandra Dottin managed to steady the ship to reach 143, the chase of 208 against Gujarat Giants in their previous game showed a similar pattern of missed opportunities. Despite the top-order jitters, the silver lining remained the fighting spirit of the lower order, particularly Phoebe Litchfield, whose brilliant 78 kept the team in the hunt until the final over.
The “KL Rahul” Blueprint: Shweta Sehrawat’s New Role
While the batting order remains a work in progress, one of the most exciting developments in the UPW camp is the transformation of Shweta Sehrawat. Traditionally a top-order batter, Sehrawat has been transitioned into a middle-order finisher and, more surprisingly, a wicketkeeper. Nayar compared this move to the career path of Indian international KL Rahul, suggesting that adding the gloves to her repertoire could be her “golden ticket” to the national side.
Sehrawat has already shown she has the temperament for the job. In a brief but impactful cameo, she smashed a 17-ball 25, including a massive six off her very first ball from Renuka Singh. Her domestic stats—striking at over 144 in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy—back up the coach’s faith in her “power and flair.”
Having spent the last two weeks keeping to world-class spinners like Sophie Ecclestone and Deepti Sharma, Sehrawat is being groomed as a versatile asset for India. Nayar remains optimistic that despite the recent losses, the individual growth of players like Sehrawat will eventually translate into team success. For now, the Warriorz must head back to the drawing board to find the right balance between technical stability and raw power at the top of the order.
