“Just Didn’t Work Out”: Nayar, Lanning Reflect on UP Warriorz’ WPL 2026 Exit

UP Warriorz’ WPL 2026 campaign came to an end following a five-wicket defeat to Delhi Capitals, with head coach Abhishek Nayar admitting it was a season where things simply failed to click. Despite moments of promise, UPW managed only two wins from eight matches and bowed out of contention after an inconsistent run.

“It’s been a hard season to pinpoint exactly what went wrong,” Nayar said after the loss. “It’s one of those seasons where it just didn’t work out.”

UPW’s campaign was marked by sharp contrasts. Their only two victories came in Navi Mumbai, both against two-time champions Mumbai Indians — a feat no team had previously achieved in the WPL. However, three consecutive defeats in the Vadodara leg sealed their fate and knocked them out of the tournament.

Nayar pointed to the loss of Phoebe Litchfield as a major turning point. “We got some momentum with those two wins, and then we lost Phoebe,” he explained. “She had close to 250 runs by then. In the business end of the tournament, you want your in-form players available. Our No. 3 spot didn’t look the same after that.”

Despite their struggles, UPW remained mathematically in contention for a place in the Eliminator until the final league game. However, needing an unprecedented 156-run win over Delhi Capitals on a slow Kotambi Stadium pitch, UPW were restricted to 122. Missed chances in the field — including four dropped catches, three of Laura Wolvaardt — further hurt their cause as DC chased the target comfortably.

Captain Meg Lanning cited inconsistency as the team’s biggest issue. “We’ve had patches where we’ve put teams under pressure and then given it back too easily,” she said. “The challenge is sustaining that pressure for longer periods.”

One of UPW’s key problem areas was the opening combination. Kiran Navgire, coming off a strong domestic season, struggled to find form and registered three ducks in six innings. UPW tried three different opening pairs — the second most by any team this season — including brief experiments with Harleen Deol and later Deepti Sharma.

The move to promote Deepti Sharma paid dividends in the final stages, as she and Lanning added 74 for the opening wicket against Royal Challengers Bengaluru — UPW’s best opening stand of the season. Nayar explained the decision was driven by match-ups rather than desperation.

“It wasn’t a random call,” Nayar said. “Lauren Bell doesn’t have great numbers against left-handers. Without Phoebe, we needed a left-hander to take her on in the powerplay. Whether that’s a long-term solution, I’m not sure.”

Lanning herself endured an up-and-down season by her own high standards but still finished as the fourth-highest run-scorer of the league stage with 248 runs in eight innings. It was her lowest tally in a WPL season, yet she reiterated her commitment to the game.

“I’m still thoroughly enjoying my cricket,” Lanning said. “I’m competitive, I like to win, and that fire is still there. I’ll be back next year and hopefully for a bit longer after that.”

Another focus area for Nayar was the development of Shweta Sehrawat, whom he backed in a new middle-order role and as a wicketkeeper — a move he likened to KL Rahul’s transition in men’s cricket. However, Sehrawat struggled, scoring just 46 runs in six innings at a strike rate below 100, and was eventually replaced by Shipra Giri.

“I’ve been very clear with her,” Nayar said. “Retention doesn’t guarantee selection. If you score fewer than 50 runs in a season, you have to look at other options going forward.”

For UP Warriorz, WPL 2026 will be remembered as a season of missed opportunities — flashes of brilliance undone by inconsistency, injuries, and experiments that failed to come together at the right time.