New Delhi, Jan 22 (NationPress) The challenges faced by the defending champions, Mumbai Indians, during the batting power-play in the 2026 Women's Premier League (WPL) are largely due to a significant lack of stability at the top of their batting lineup, according to Saba Karim, a former Indian men’s wicketkeeper-batter.

The two-time champions have experienced four losses out of six matches, marking an unprecedented situation for the franchise. Their batting power-play run rate stands at 6.05, the lowest in the tournament, with none of their five openers—Hayley Matthews, G Kamalini, Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, and Sajeevan Sajana—managing to score above 40 in any innings this season.

Further complicating matters, regular opener Hayley Matthews has had limited game time following shoulder surgery and a quad injury, while Kamalini has been sidelined from the tournament due to a shoulder strain.

"This is the primary reason for MI's struggles at this point; there is a significant lack of stability at the top. Historically, if we analyze Mumbai Indians' performances over the past few seasons, their success can be attributed to having a stable top order, particularly with Hayley Matthews performing strongly as an opener," Karim stated in an interview with IANS during the WPL 2026 media day organized by JioStar.

The lack of effective openers has placed a considerable burden on Nat Sciver-Brunt (136 runs) and Harmanpreet Kaur (166 runs), who have been pivotal in keeping MI's campaign alive. "Despite their commendable efforts, these two players have been carrying the batting load. Although Amanjot Kaur has shown promise at the top, her contributions lower down the order have been minimal," he explained.

"MI's batting performance has severely limited their effectiveness this season. They have often struggled to exceed scores of 160-170 or 175. Given the conditions at the DY Patil Stadium, achieving scores of at least 190-200 is essential. Their failure to do so has been detrimental," Karim, a former selector for India, added.

On the other hand, the UP Warriorz have recently bounced back from a three-match losing streak with consecutive wins, although they still seek a consistent batting order. Karim expressed optimism about skipper Meg Lanning finding the right combination to make a serious playoff push.

"I have faith in Meg Lanning to develop the appropriate strategy. She has taken the necessary time to understand her players, and now seems well-positioned to determine the batting order. In T20 cricket, the order tends to be quite fluid, except for the top three positions," he noted.

"A stable top three increases a team's chances of success, particularly since they typically bat during the power play. Although Meg Lanning and the UP Warriorz have taken time to settle, their management chose her as captain due to her leadership and batting capabilities. I believe this is beginning to manifest for the team, and with just a few matches left, they have a solid chance of qualifying for the playoffs," he concluded.

With the Royal Challengers Bengaluru already secured a playoff spot, teams like MI, UPW, Delhi Capitals, and Gujarat Giants are all tied with four points, creating an unprecedented competitive race for playoff positions in WPL history.

"This competitiveness is what makes the WPL so exciting. The maturity displayed in the league has led to all teams fighting for the top three spots. We are now nearing the tournament's conclusion, with just one team qualified, leaving opportunities for others to vie for playoff positions," Karim remarked.

"Overall, this season has captivated audiences in numerous ways. The scoring has significantly increased compared to previous seasons, with higher strike rates and more thrilling matches. This surge in performance can be attributed to the mega auction held after three years, which has introduced fresh talent and allowed teams to restructure their lineups. As a result, this season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in WPL history," Karim concluded.