The Women’s Premier League 2026 keeps the energy high, and now it’s Mumbai Indians facing UP Warriorz in Match 8. They’re clashing on January 15 at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. If you see Head to Head battles, MI has 5 wins, and UPW has 2 WIns against each other.
Mumbai Indians walk in as one of the teams to beat. They’ve got a mix of international stars and strong Indian talent, so they’re covered in every area. Harmanpreet Kaur leads the way, a captain who knows how to handle pressure and squeeze out wins in those close matches.
UP Warriorz are aiming to turn things around this season. They’ve brought in some big names, like the legendary Meg Lanning. With Deepti Sharma holding things together and Sophie Ecclestone spinning magic, Warriorz definitely have the firepower to spring a surprise when it counts.
Match Details: MI vs UPW
Here are the key details of MI vs UPW:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Mumbai Indians vs UP Warriorz, Match 8 |
| Series | Women’s Premier League 2026 |
| Date | January 15, 2026 |
| Time | 7:30 PM IST |
| Venue | Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai |
| Streaming | JioHotstar |
| Broadcast | Star Sports |
Head-to-Head Record: MI vs UPW
| Statistic | MI | UPW |
|---|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 7 | 7 |
| Wins | 5 | 2 |
Performance in Last 1 Year
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MI | 12 | 8 | 4 | 66.67% |
| UPW | 10 | 3 | 7 | 30.00% |
Top Performers in the Last Year
Batters:
- Nat Sciver-Brunt (MI): 597 runs
- Deepti Sharma (UPW): 168 runs
Bowlers:
- Amelia Kerr (MI): 23 wickets
- Sophie Ecclestone (UPW): 11 wickets
Pitch Report
Here is the pitch report that tells us the quality of the pitch:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Pitch Character | Balanced/Sporting. Offers a consistent pace and bounce, allowing batters to play through the line once settled. |
| Early Advantage | Seamers. The new ball provides some swing and carry in the initial overs. |
| Mid-Game Shift | Spinners. As the match progresses and the surface slows, spinners find more grip and turn during the middle overs. |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 165-168 runs. |
| Boundary Dimensions | Short (48 m) to Moderate (66 m). The relatively short square boundaries often lead to high-scoring games. |
| Toss Strategy | Bowl first. Historically, chasing teams have a higher success rate here. |
Probable Playing XI
Here are the probable playing 11 of both teams:
Mumbai Indians (MI)
G Kamalini (WK), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Amanjot Kaur, Poonam Khemnar, Sajana Sajeevan, Sanskriti Gupta, Nicola Carey, Shabnim Ismail, Triveni Vashistha
UP Warriorz (UPW)
Meg Lanning (C), Phoebe Litchfield, Kiran Navgire, Deandra Dottin, Deepti Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Shweta Sehrawat (WK), Harleen Deol, Sophie Ecclestone, Shikha Pandey, and Asha Sobhana
Team Analysis
Here is some key information about both teams:
Mumbai Indians (MI)
Mumbai Indians walk into this match with confidence; they’ve beaten UP Warriorz in five out of seven games. Harmanpreet Kaur still runs the show, drawing on her experience and sticking to a plan that works. Most of last season’s winning squad is back, so there’s a sense of continuity.
Nat Sciver-Brunt is their rock. Last year, she racked up 597 runs and topped the charts in this head-to-head. She knows how to settle things down or shift gears when the team needs it most. Up top, Hayley Matthews brings real punch with the bat and chips in with her off-spin.
Their bowling attack is fierce. Amelia Kerr leads the way; she grabbed 23 wickets last year, more than anyone else from either side. Shabnim Ismail adds serious pace, while the spin duo of Kerr and Matthews gives Harmanpreet options for every situation. Young G. Kamalini is sharp behind the stumps and doesn’t mind swinging the bat down the order if called upon.
UP Warriorz (UPW)
UP Warriorz haven’t had much luck against Mumbai Indians so far, just 2 wins in 7 matches. That’s a 30% win rate over the past year, so yeah, it’s been tough. But this season feels different. They’ve brought in some real firepower, and it actually looks like things might turn around.
Meg Lanning is the big one. She’s a legend in Australian cricket, and now she’s opening for UP. With her up top, the batting lineup suddenly looks way more solid. Phoebe Litchfield joins in, too, giving them another reliable bat. And then there’s Deandra Dottin, who can absolutely smash the ball when they need quick runs.
Deepti Sharma’s still the heart of the team. She scored 168 runs last year and does a bit of everything, super valuable. On the bowling side, Sophie Ecclestone leads the way. She took 11 wickets, and her left-arm spin messes with even the best batters out there. If UP Warriorz bat first and put up a decent score, Ecclestone can really put the squeeze on Mumbai.
Key Players to Watch
Here are the best players to watch out for in this battle:
Best Batter: Nat Sciver-Brunt (MI)
The England all-rounder has been in sensational form over the last year. She topped the run charts with 597 runs, showing consistency across different match situations. Sciver-Brunt times the ball beautifully and picks gaps in the field with ease. Her ability to rotate strike and then explode when needed makes her a nightmare for bowlers. Against UP Warriorz, she will look to continue her dominant run.
Best Bowler: Amelia Kerr (MI)
New Zealand’s leg-spinner dominated the wicket charts with 23 wickets in the last year. Kerr bowls with excellent control and varies her pace cleverly. Her googlies deceive even the most watchful batters. Beyond her bowling, she contributes valuable runs in the middle order. MI paid 3 crore for her at the auction, and she continues to prove her worth in every game.
Match Prediction
Mumbai Indians hold a clear advantage going into this contest. Their 5-2 head-to-head record against UP Warriorz shows their dominance in this fixture. The team’s 66.67% win rate over the last year, compared to UPW’s 30%, tells the story clearly.
UP Warriorz need to fire on all cylinders to upset the favorites. Meg Lanning’s presence adds quality, but she needs support from the other batters. If Deepti Sharma and Sophie Ecclestone can control the middle overs.
The pitch at DY Patil Stadium offers something for everyone. Teams batting second have found success here, so the toss could play an important role. If MI wins the toss, expect them to bowl first and chase down any target with their strong batting lineup.
Winner Prediction: Mumbai Indians (MI)
Mumbai Indians have too much quality across all departments. Nat Sciver-Brunt leads the batting, Amelia Kerr controls the bowling, and Harmanpreet Kaur knows how to win tight games. Their superior head-to-head record and recent form make them the clear favorites. UP Warriorz will fight hard, but MI should come out on top in this encounter.
This match promises exciting cricket for fans. Both teams have star players who can change the game at any moment. Whether it’s Kerr’s spin magic or Ecclestone’s clever variations, expect some quality bowling on display. And with batters like Sciver-Brunt and Lanning around, runs will flow too.
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Conclusion
Match 8 of the WPL 2026, Mumbai Indians vs UP Warriorz, has a bit of everything. Mumbai is riding high, starting their WPL 2026 campaign with 1 win and 1 loss; on the other hand, UPW lost both of their first 2 games. UP Warriorz are searching for a spark, hoping their fresh faces finally click. No matter how it plays out, this one promises some real excitement. The Women’s Premier League just keeps getting bigger, and games like this make it obvious why cricket fans can’t look away.
