A Small Mistake, a Big Lesson: Naya’s Take on the UP Warriors’ WPL Season

Abhishek Nayar refused to pin UP Warriorz’s 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) campaign on a single failure. From the head coach’s perspective, the season was defined less by one mistake and more by a chain of small breakdowns that, cumulatively, proved decisive.

“There are seasons where it’s very hard to pinpoint what went wrong,” Nayar reflected. The Warriorz finished at the bottom of the table for the second consecutive year, claiming just two victories amid a hat-trick of defeats. Despite assembling a promising squad at the mega-auction, consistency eluded them. Early momentum, including back-to-back wins over Mumbai Indians, dissipated once the tournament shifted to Vadodara.

A key factor was the loss of young Australian Phoebe Litchfield. By the time she left for national duties, she was the team’s leading run-scorer with 243 runs in six innings and had become the linchpin of UPW’s batting order at No. 3. “In the business-half, you normally want your in-form players to be there. I just felt that our No. 3 didn’t look the same post-Phoebe. And it was hard for us to fill her boots,” Nayar explained.

Attempts to cover her absence included bringing in Amy Jones in the penultimate match and debuting Charli Knott in the final league game. By then, UPW were only mathematically still in qualification contention. Beyond Litchfield, the team struggled for runs at the top order. Nayar reiterated a basic T20 principle: “When the top-order fires, your team tends to do well.” Kiran Navgire’s disappointing season forced experimental combinations, with Harleen Deol and Deepti Sharma opening in later matches, yielding mixed results.

Even when adjustments worked, such as Deepti’s 55 and 29 in the final two matches, Nayar cautioned against viewing them as permanent solutions. Strategic decisions were carefully considered, often exploiting match-ups—like using a left-hander to challenge Lauren Bell in the PowerPlay—rather than being arbitrary.

Off the field, Nayar emphasised transparency and team-first decision-making. Shweta Sehrawat, retained from the previous season, endured a lean patch and was benched in the final game, while Navgire struggled alongside skipper Meg Lanning. “I don’t believe that retention guarantees anything for anyone,” Nayar said. “The dressing room knows that I’ve been very honest with my decisions… when it doesn’t work out, the team has to look forward and consider other options.”

Despite a testing season, positives emerged. Lanning provided steady leadership, Litchfield showcased undeniable talent, and Shikha Pandey influenced the team both on and off the field. Nayar’s maiden full-time stint in women’s cricket offered steep learning curves, mitigated by Lanning’s experience and respect within the dressing room.

Management’s focus went beyond mere survival, fostering growth and reflection for players with limited opportunities. “When your results don’t go your way, you start talking about how your players can get better… it’s not about one season. It’s about hopefully impacting them even in their careers in the future,” Nayar said.

While the 2026 campaign will sting, the Warriorz have emerged with critical takeaways: leadership, clarity, and talent. Nayar believes Lanning will remain central to the franchise’s future success, bringing “glory to this franchise” in the seasons ahead.

UP Warriorz 2026 WPL Season Summary

The 2026 WPL campaign may have been challenging for UP Warriorz, but with lessons learned and a core of promising talent, the franchise looks poised to regroup and aim higher in the seasons to come.