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It is rare for an opposition captain to comment on the tactical decisions of a rival team, but after watching Harleen Deol dismantle her bowling attack, Mumbai Indians skipper couldn’t hold back. Following UP Warriorz‘ emphatic 7-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians in WPL 2026, the Indian captain offered a glowing endorsement of Deol, while subtly questioning the controversial handling of the batter in the previous game.
Harmanpreet’s post-match comments have put a spotlight on Deol’s resilience, validating the young batter’s quality just 24 hours after her own management appeared to lose faith in her death-overs ability.
Harmanpreet Kaur expresses shock at Harleen Deol’s retired-out call from UP Warriroz
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Harmanpreet was gracious in defeat, directing much of her praise toward Deol’s “beautiful” batting display. She emphasized that Deol’s performance was a clear answer to critics and a demonstration of why she is integral to the Warriorz lineup.
“Yeah, definitely. I think she’s shown what, you know, why she’s there in the side and what she can bring to the team,” Harmanpreet noted.
However, the most telling moment came when Harmanpreet addressed the elephant in the room—Deol’s forced retirement in the previous match against . Harman reckoned she was taken aback after seeing Harleen getting retired out in the previous game.
“Yeah, surprised to see she was retired in the last game, but I think she came up with a very positive mindset and I hope she’ll continue that,” the MI skipper added.
Notably, Deol was controversially ‘retired out’ by her management while batting on 47, a tactical gamble intended to bring 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 vindication for Harleen. It reinforces the sentiment that Deol’s value goes beyond raw strike rates; it lies in her ability to construct an innings and win matches, exactly as she did against Mumbai.
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Deol delivers when it matters most
After a stuttering start to their WPL 2026 campaign, the UP Warriorz finally registered their first points on the board with a convincing 7-wicket victory over MI. The chase was defined by the brilliance of Deol, who put the tactical heartbreak of the previous game behind her to anchor the innings with style and substance. Chasing 162, Deol walked in under pressure and delivered a masterclass in controlled aggression. She remained unbeaten on 64 off 39 balls, guiding the Warriorz home with ease.
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