All the seven matches of the 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL) so far have been won by the chasing team. The latest chapter was written by the Mumbai Indians (MI), who edged out Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by four wickets in a nail-biting finish at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, kicking off the Bengaluru leg of the tournament in dramatic fashion.
RCB, put in to bat first, rode on Ellyse Perry’s masterclass—a scintillating 81 off just 43 balls. Despite Perry’s brilliance, MI’s disciplined bowling effort restricted RCB to a competitive but chaseable 167 for 7. Perry seemed unstoppable until all-rounder Amanjot Kaur turned the tide, with key wickets of Richa Ghosh, Georgia Wareham and Ellyse Perry, while finishing with impressive figures of 3-22 from her three overs.
MI’s chase began on a high note, tying the season’s best powerplay score with 66 runs for the loss of two wickets. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur anchored the innings with a crucial 50 off 38 balls, setting a solid foundation alongside Nat Sciver-Brunt’s valuable 42(21). Harmanpreet’s composed knock of 50(38) included successive boundaries off VJ Joshitha and a slog-swept six off Ekta Bisht that electrified the crowd.
Harmanpreet then shared a 62-run partnership with Amanjot, who scored 34*(27). On which, Amanjot reflected, “The wicket wasn’t as easy as it seemed at first. Harman di (Harmanpreet Kaur) advised us to stay patient and bowl wisely—some overs might go for 4 or 6 runs, while others could go for as much as 18 runs. So, we focused on respecting the good deliveries and waiting for the bad ones to capitalize on. Harman di is always special; her consistency and her style of play make everything look so easy. Playing alongside her is always a valuable learning experience.”
However, drama unfolded in the 18th over when Georgia Wareham dismissed Harmanpreet and S Sajana on consecutive deliveries, swinging the momentum back in RCB’s favor with only 2 runs coming off the over. Then G Kamalini joined Amanjot, and the duo added 26 runs.
Amanjot then seized control when it mattered most. With 22 runs needed off 12 balls, she smashed two crucial sixes off Kanika Ahuja in the 19th over, narrowing the equation to a run-a-ball scenario. Talking about the pressure moment, Amanjot shared, “We call each other chotu, so she was telling me ‘ho jayega chotu’ so I said that yeah we will take the team over the line.”
Just when RCB smelled a potential comeback, 16-year-old Kamalini showcased composure beyond her years. With 2 runs needed from 2 balls and tension at its peak, Kamalini elegantly pierced the gap through the covers off Ekta Bisht’s delivery, sealing the game for MI with a boundary.
Reflecting on the final shot, Kamalini said, “Yeah, we both were talking about that we have to finish the game and that was our main goal, so we did that. She played really well, those two sixes mattered, and I just loved her batting.”
The teenager’s nerves of steel drew praise from Amanjot, “She (Kamalini) is a great talent, it is not easy for an under-19 to come and absorb the pressure. Blessed, many more to come (on her performance).”
For Kamalini, the motivation was simple yet profound, “MI (Mumbai Indians) family says just to enjoy. They will say to just go and express yourself. We took no pressure and we both were laughing. I kept it simple, and my main goal was that I have to do it for my Mumbai Indians.”
Amanjot’s all-round brilliance—an unbeaten 34 off 27 balls complemented by her three-wicket haul—earned her the Player of the Match honors. This game wasn’t just a win for MI; it was a testament to resilience, teamwork, and the emergence of young talents like G Kamalini, signaling exciting times ahead for the Women’s Premier League.
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