In a historic move for Match 10 of WPL 2026, the Mumbai Indians have decided to rest their primary strike bowler, Shabnim Ismail, for the high-stakes rematch against the UP Warriorz on January 17.

WPL 2026: Why Shabnim Ismail is not playing today’s UP-W vs MI-W match

Shabnim Ismail has been the undisputed leader of the Mumbai Indians’ bowling attack in the 2026 edition, proving that her speed demon persona is as lethal as ever. In the four matches she has played so far, Ismail has consistently shattered the 125 km/h barrier, currently holding the record for the second most dot balls in this edition and maintaining a phenomenal economy rate of 5.81.

Her ability to provide early breakthroughs has been clinical, highlighted by her dismissals of top-tier openers like Smriti Mandhana and Meg Lanning during the powerplay phases. Statistically, she has already claimed three wickets while conceding fewer than six runs per over, a feat that has made her the most difficult bowler to score against in the league. Her performance against the Gujarat Giants in Match 6 was particularly noteworthy, where she bowled 18 dot balls in a four-over spell, effectively suffocating the chase and setting up a comfortable win for her side. By resting her today, Mumbai is not just protecting a veteran athlete but is banking on the fact that her early-season dominance has already placed them in a strong position, allowing her to recharge before the tournament’s final stretch.

“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. We feel Matthews is going to play a very big role on this pitch.” Harmanpreet said during toss.

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Return of Hayley Matthews for Mumbai Indians against UP Warriorz

The decision to rest Ismail has finally resolved the selection headache involving Hayley Matthews, who returns to the XI after a brief period of ‘workload management’ following a shoulder niggle. This shift sees a major change in team balance, moving away from a pace-heavy strategy to a more spin-dominant and batting-heavy configuration that features three world-class all-rounders in Sciver-Brunt, Matthews, and Kerr.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur emphasized at the toss that while Ismail’s pace is a unique asset, the form of Nicola Carey who has been a match-winner with both bat and ball, made it impossible to leave her out. Matthews returns to her familiar opening slot, which significantly bolsters the team’s stability against the Warriorz’ spin-heavy attack led by Sophie Ecclestone. This ‘selection squeeze’ showcases Mumbai’s luxury of riches, as they can afford to rest the world’s fastest bowler and still field a lineup featuring four of the most impactful international stars in women’s cricket. While the absence of Ismail’s intimidation factor is a risk, the added insurance of Matthews’ power-hitting and off-spin provides a different kind of tactical edge for this Saturday evening blockbuster.

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

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