Harmanpreet Kaur the India and Mumbai Indians skipper continued her dream run in the Women’s Premier League as she topped off her amazing performance last season, with another match-winning knock in the opening game of the second edition of the WPL.
In the inaugural edition of the WPL, Harmanpreet Kaur led by example and was one of the most crucial batters for the Mumbai Indians outfit. In a season where the Mumbai Indians emerged as champions, she scored 281 runs in 9 innings and averaged a healthy 40.14 with the bat. She scored with a brisk strike rate of 135.09, she balanced aggression and rotated the strike well and also worked on finding gaps regularly.
Her highest score in the 2023 season came in the first match of the inaugural edition of the WPL and she set the tone for her team for the remainder of the tournament. Harmanpreet Kaur scored a blazing 65 off 30 balls, helping Mumbai post a 207-run total against the Gujarat Giants. Her innings comprised a whopping 14 fours and saw her scoring at a strike rate of 216.66. She was adjudged the Player of the Match as Mumbai Indians went on to register a 143-run victory over the Gujarat-based franchise.
Some of her other crucial knocks came in the form of an unbeaten 55-run knock against the UP Warriorz and a 30-ball 50 against the Gujarat Giants in the reverse fixture for which she was awarded the Player of the Match in both games.
In match 1 of the second edition of the WPL, Mumbai Indians locked horns with the Delhi Capitals, a replay of the last edition’s final.
Delhi was asked to bat first after the Mumbai Indians skipper won the toss. Contributions from Meg Lanning, Alice Capsey, and Jemimah Rodrigues saw the Delhi Capitals post a formidable 171-run total for the Mumbai Indians to chase down. Mumbai Indians were in a tricky situation as they lost opener Hayley Matthews without opening her account and Natalie Sciver very cheaply.
Mumbai Indians were reeling at 50 for 2 after 6.1 overs when Harmanpreet walked to the middle. She looked assured from ball 1 as she unleashed a beautiful cover drive and dispatched Arundhati Reddy to the boundary to open her account. She along with Yastika Bhatia stabilised the Mumbai Indians innings and got them into a position where they could chase down the target. With 5 needed off 2 balls, Harmanpreet attempted a big shot but could only manage to find the long-on fielder. Sajeevan Sajana came to the middle with 5 needed off the last delivery, she displayed a cool calm character as she deposited Alice Capsey into the stands to win her side the game.
Harmanpreet will be hoping to carry this momentum and form into the remaining matches. Mumbai Indians will hope Harmanpreet can replicate her heroics from the previous edition and have yet another spectacular season.