Kiran Navgire’s WPL 2026 campaign took another frustrating turn when she was dismissed in one of the oddest stumpings of the season during UP Warriorz’s clash with Gujarat Giants. Sent back for a solitary duck after a wide delivery struck Beth Mooney and ricocheted onto the stumps while Navgire was out of her crease, the dismissal encapsulated a difficult run of form for the big-hitting opener as Gujarat crushed UP by 45 runs.
How the dismissal unfolded
The incident came early in UP Warriorz’s chase at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara. Renuka Singh Thakur bowled a ball that drifted down the leg side and was called wide; Navgire had moved out of her crease to play the flick but missed. The delivery struck the pads of Beth Mooney, took a deflection and went on to hit the stumps while Navgire was out of her ground, leaving the batter out stumped on first-ball duck. Broadly unintentional and painfully unlucky, the mode of dismissal was immediately described as bizarre by commentators.
What it means for Navgire’s season
Navgire’s wicket was part of a worrying pattern. This season she has struggled to deliver the power-hitting impact expected of her role at the top, including several ducks and single-digit returns, leaving her WPL 2026 numbers modest so far and increasing pressure on her to rediscover form.
How Gujarat Giants built and sealed the win
Gujarat Giants posted 153 for 8 in their 20 overs. UP Warriorz were dismissed for 108 in 17.3 overs, leaving Gujarat Giants victorious by 45 runs. The Giants’ bowling unit controlled the second innings, and crucial breakthroughs including the early dismissal of Navgire helped tilt momentum decisively in Gujarat’s favour, underlining their superiority on the evening and leaving UP to regroup after a heavy defeat.
Bigger picture for UP Warriorz & Navgire
For UP Warriorz, the loss exposes a reliance on starts from their top order that haven’t consistently materialised. Navgire’s form, and her unusual dismissal in this match, adds to selection and tactical questions ahead of the next fixtures. With a history of explosive domestic innings, Navgire has the tools to reverse this slump, but she will need immediate contributions to justify her role as an impact opener in the middle of the WPL campaign.
