As the Women’s Premier League (WPL) heads toward its highly anticipated third season in 2025, franchise teams are busy strategizing around retention, releases, and potential acquisitions.
The Mumbai Indians, champions of the inaugural edition, are no exception. Known for fielding one of the most competitive lineups, the team is now refining its composition, aiming to address critical gaps while preserving its core strengths.
In preparation for the 2024 edition, Mumbai Indians made a few strategic buys, bringing in South Africa’s star bowler Shabnim Ismail, along with domestic talents like Amandeep Kaur, Sanjeevan Sajana, Fatima Jaffer, and Keerthana Balakrishnan. These players contributed to a season of mixed results, with Mumbai Indians finishing third after a narrow five-run loss in the Eliminator against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Since the league’s inception, Mumbai Indians have consistently performed, playing 19 matches across two seasons and clinching victory in 13 of them. The team showcased its dominance in the first season by defeating Delhi Capitals by seven wickets to secure the title. However, in 2024, they faced setbacks, crashing out in the playoffs, which underlined areas requiring improvement.
The franchise has relied on a formidable bowling attack, featuring world-class all-rounders like Amelia Kerr, Hayley Matthews, Natalie Sciver, and Shabnim Ismail. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur has been the linchpin of the team’s middle order, her experience and composure anchoring their batting. Key 2024 additions like Ismail and Sajana injected pace and fresh energy, but Mumbai Indians recognize that they need to balance their lineup better, especially in batting depth and left-right combinations.
Likely Retained Players:
Based on previous seasons and the current roster composition, Mumbai Indians are likely to retain the following players: Amanjot Kaur, Amelia Kerr (New Zealand), Chloe Tryon (South Africa), Harmanpreet Kaur, Hayley Matthews (West Indies), Humairaa Kaazi, Jintimani Kalita, Natalie Sciver (England), Pooja Vastrakar, Saika Ishaque, Yastika Bhatia, Shabnim Ismail (South Africa), S Sajana, and Keerthana Balakrishnan.
Likely Released Players:
While several players have shown promise, Mumbai Indians might make a few changes to further optimize their roster. Priyanka Bala, who has only played one match for the team with an unbeaten 19, may be released as the team already has multiple right-handed batters. Other players likely to be released include Amandeep Kaur and Fatima Jaffer, both right-handed batters who have not yet found a spot in the playing XI.
For overseas players, Isabelle Wong could be a potential release. The skilled pacer made a strong impact in 2023 with 18 wickets in 10 matches, yet she played only twice in 2024, taking three wickets at an economy of 8.33. Despite her potential, Mumbai may look to refresh their overseas contingent with a new dynamic.
Despite a solid lineup, Mumbai’s reliance on right-handed batters creates a strategic imbalance. Introducing skilled left-handers in both middle and lower orders would add flexibility, making their batting combinations more unpredictable and robust. Here’s a look at some potential buys that could fill these gaps:
Devika Vaidya (Left-Handed All-Rounder)
Vaidya is known for her all-round abilities and left-handed batting strength. She has played 17 T20Is for India, scoring 270 runs and taking 10 wickets. Her experience with UP Warriorz in the WPL, where she scored 77 runs and claimed one wicket in seven matches, demonstrates her potential as a key middle-order option who could strengthen Mumbai’s lineup.
Raghvi Bist (Domestic Talent)
A promising domestic player, Raghvi Bist could bring valuable depth to Mumbai Indians. She recently topped the one-day series in India A’s tour of Australia, scoring 205 runs across three innings. Additionally, she offers bowling capabilities as a handy pacer, potentially addressing both batting and bowling needs for Mumbai.
Lauren Cheatle (Left-Arm Pacer)
Known for her left-arm pace, Cheatle would add a unique angle to Mumbai’s bowling attack. With 84 wickets in 81 WBBL matches and experience from seven T20Is for Australia, her expertise in generating variety could provide the team with much-needed flexibility against diverse batting styles.
Lauren Bell (Pace Specialist)
England’s Lauren Bell would be an ideal addition to Mumbai’s pace attack, especially for her death-over prowess. With 33 wickets in 25 T20Is, Bell’s 41 wickets for Southern Brave in The Hundred highlight her ability to excel in high-pressure situations, making her a valuable target for the franchise.
An exciting possibility for the Mumbai Indians is fielding a fifth overseas player from an Associate Member nation. This strategic inclusion would not only deepen their playing XI but also allow them to discover emerging talent, potentially giving the team an edge in lineup diversity.
For the upcoming season, Mumbai Indians’ main areas of focus will be balancing their batting order. Adding left-handed batters to a predominantly right-handed lineup could unlock better combinations and elevate their performance. By refining their all-round options and strengthening their middle-order depth, Mumbai will be poised to mount another strong challenge in WPL 2025.
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