It is rare for an opposition captain to comment on the tactical decisions of the rival team, but after watching Harleen Deol Destroy his bowling attack, Mumbai Indians captain Harmanpreet Kaur could not resist. next UP WarriorsStrong win over Mumbai Indians by 7 wickets wpl 2026The Indian captain strongly supported Deol, subtly questioning the batsman’s controversial management in the previous game.
Harmanpreet’s post-match comments highlighted Deol’s resilience, confirming the young batsman’s quality just 24 hours after his own management lost faith in his death overs ability.
Harmanpreet Kaur expressed surprise at Harleen Deol’s retirement from UP Warriors
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Harmanpreet was gracious towards the defeat, directing most of her praise towards Deol’s “beautiful” batting performance. He stressed that Deol’s performance was a clear answer to the critics and a demonstration of why he is an integral part of the Warriors lineup.
“Yeah, definitely. I think she’s shown, you know, why she’s on the team and what she can bring to the team,” Harmanpreet said.
However, the most notable moment came when Harmanpreet addressed the elephant in the room – Deol’s forced retirement in the previous match. Delhi Capitals. Harman said that she was surprised to see Harleen retire in the last game.
“Yes, it was a surprise to see her retire in the last game, but I think she came in with a very positive mindset and I hope she continues that.” The MI captain added.
Notably, Deol was controversially ‘retired out’ by his management while batting on 47, a tactical gamble aimed at bringing in a power hitter that ultimately backfired. For a senior figure like Harmanpreet – who is also Deol’s national team captain – to publicly express surprise at that decision serves as a major validation for Harleen. This reinforces the feeling that Deol’s value goes beyond raw strike rate; This lies in his ability to build an innings and win matches, as he did against Mumbai.
Deol delivers when it matters most
After a shaky start to their WPL 2026 campaign, UP Warriors finally registered their first point on the board with an impressive 7-wicket win over MI. The goal was determined by the brilliance of Deol, who opened the innings with style and substance, leaving behind the tactical disappointment of the previous game. Chasing 162, Deol came under pressure and gave a masterclass in controlled aggression. She remained unbeaten on 64 runs in 39 balls and led the Warriors to an easy win.
This article was first published here WomenCricket.comA Cricket Times Company.
