Mumbai Indians reaffirmed their dominance in the Women’s Premier League, securing their second title in three seasons with a thrilling eight-run victory over Delhi Capitals in the WPL 2025 final on March 15. Under the Brabourne lights, it was a contest defined by resilience, pressure, and individual brilliance, with Harmanpreet Kaur leading from the front when it mattered most.
MI found themselves in early trouble at 14/2 after Marizanne Kapp’s fiery spell rocked their top order. However, Kaur, showcasing her big-match temperament, orchestrated a stunning fightback. She steadied the innings alongside Nat Sciver-Brunt, adding 89 runs for the third wicket. The MI skipper, after a cautious start, switched gears, dispatching Annabel Sutherland and Jess Jonassen for crucial boundaries. Her half-century came off just 35 balls, a testament to her ability to absorb pressure and counterattack effectively.
Even after Sciver-Brunt departed, Kaur continued the momentum until she fell in the 18th over, trying to clear the ropes against Sutherland. Late cameos from Amanjot Kaur (14* off 7) and Sanskriti Gupta (8* off 5) propelled MI to a competitive 149/7. Despite Kapp’s masterful 2/11 and Jonassen’s 2/26, it was Kaur’s knock that proved to be the backbone of Mumbai’s total.
Delhi Capitals, in pursuit of 150, suffered early setbacks as MI’s bowling attack made inroads. Sciver-Brunt struck early, clean-bowling Meg Lanning, while Shabnim Ismail, Amelia Kerr, and Saika Ishaque dismantled the top order. Reduced to 44/4, DC found themselves in deep trouble, and when Jemimah Rodrigues fell at 66/5, the hopes of a successful chase seemed bleak. But just as MI had their leader stepping up, DC had Kapp refusing to let go without a fight.
Kapp, having already shone with the ball, launched a counterattack with a blazing 40 off 26 balls. Her calculated aggression kept DC in the contest, as she took on Sciver-Brunt, Matthews, and Ishaque with fearless stroke play. She found an able partner in Niki Prasad, whose unbeaten 25 off 23 balls played a crucial supporting role. With the equation coming down to 14 off the final over, DC was on the verge of pulling off a stunning heist. However, Sciver-Brunt, who had drawn first blood with the ball, had the last laugh as Kapp’s dismissal to Matthews at long-off sealed DC’s fate.
This final marked the fourth time in WPL history that a sub-150 target was successfully defended, with DC being on the losing end in three of those occasions. The heartbreak was evident as Lanning’s blank expression spoke volumes. Despite their courageous fightback, DC once again fell just short of the ultimate prize.
Fans took to “X” (formerly known as Twitter) to celebrate Mumbai Indians’ triumph. The night belonged to MI, but DC’s resilience ensured that the final was a spectacle worthy of the grand stage.
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