WPL 2026: Why did Shabnim Ismail miss UPW vs MI clash?

Shabnim Ismail missing the high-stakes UPW vs MI came as a massive surprise for many.

The encounter between UP Warriorz (UPW) and Mumbai Indians (MI) in Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 is carrying added intrigue due to notable changes in the MI’s lineup. The two-time champions have opted to leave out lead South African pacer Shabnim Ismail, a key figure in their bowling attack.

After ten days of intense and high-quality cricket, the first phase of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 has reached its final stretch. The spotlight is firmly on the clash between UPW and defending champions MI, the second meeting between the two sides in just three days.

With UP Warriorz coming into the game on the back of their first win of the season, confidence is visibly higher. Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, are eager to bounce back and reassert their dominance as the tournament moved into a decisive phase.

WPL 2026: Why is Shabnim Ismail missing UPW vs MI clash?

Shabnim Ismail missed the UPW vs MI clash after the MI management decided to rest the experienced fast bowler. This is keeping in mind conditions, workload management and squad rotation. With multiple matches packed into a short window and the tournament entering a crucial stage, MI opted to manage Ismail’s game time rather than risk fatigue or injury.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur addressed the decision clearly at the toss. She stressed the importance of adapting to playing conditions and giving opportunities to other players in the squad. Harman said:

“Today, looking at the conditions, we’ve brought Matthews back into the side and Ismail is resting today. It’s mainly because of the conditions and because we’re playing a day match.”

The day-game surface was expected to play a significant role, prompting MI to rely more on all-round options and spin-bowling depth. Hayley Matthews’ return has added another spin bowling option to the side. While the debut of Kranthi Reddy reflected MI’s intent to test their bench strength ahead of the business end of WPL 2026.

Coming to the clash, MI won the toss and opted to bowl first against an unchanged UP Warriorz lineup. Harmanpreet Kaur said:

“We’re going to bowl first today. As a team we decided to chase today because chasing has always been our strength, and we just want to go back to our strengths.”

She further added:

“Conditions are going to play a very big role in this tournament, and at the same time, we want to give equal chances to all the players.”

MI are clearly backing their chasing ability and rotating their squad smartly. Shabnim Ismail’s absence was more a strategic rest than a cause for concern, as the defending champions look to peak at the right time in WPL 2026.

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