Mumbai Indians (MI) reaffirmed their dominance in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), clinching their second title in three seasons with a hard-fought, eight-run win over Delhi Capitals (DC) in the final. Defending a seemingly modest total of 149/7, MI held their nerve under pressure, denying DC a maiden championship and consigning them to a third consecutive runners-up finish.
Opting to bat first, MI had a disastrous start, stumbling to 14/2 inside the powerplay. Marizanne Kapp (2/11) and Shikha Pandey wreaked havoc with the new ball, exploiting the conditions expertly. Kapp extended her dominance over Hayley Matthews, dismissing her for the 11th time in T20s, while Jemimah Rodrigues’ sharp low catch sent Yastika Bhatia packing. MI’s powerplay struggles continued, posting just 20/2—one of their lowest-ever starts in WPL history.
However, a determined partnership between Nat Sciver-Brunt (30 off 28) and Harmanpreet Kaur (66 off 44) rescued MI from their early slump. The duo stitched together a crucial 89-run stand, bringing stability to the innings. Harmanpreet led the charge with a fluent 36-ball half-century—her third of the season—taking on Jess Jonassen and Minnu Mani with confidence. Just as MI looked set for a strong finish, DC struck back, triggering a collapse from 102/2 to 118/6. But Amanjot Kaur (14* off 7) and Sanskriti Gupta (8* off 5) provided a vital late push, adding 25 runs in the final two overs to lift MI to a competitive 149/7.
Chasing 150, DC found themselves in deep trouble early on, reduced to 44/4 as MI’s bowling unit came out firing. Sciver-Brunt set the tone by bowling out Meg Lanning, while Shabnim Ismail trapped Shafali Verma lbw to leave DC reeling. Jemimah Rodrigues’ dismissal at 66/5 and Sarah Bryce’s run-out further compounded their struggles, as they slumped to 83/6 inside 13 overs.
Just when MI seemed to have sealed the game, Kapp mounted a counterattack, smashing three consecutive boundaries off Saika Ishaque to inject life into the chase. She found support in Niki Prasad (25* off 23), and together, they stitched a 40-run stand off just 29 balls. With 23 needed off the last two overs and only 14 off the final over, DC were within touching distance. But Sciver-Brunt held her nerve in the last six balls, closing out a thrilling victory for MI.
Delhi Capitals’ skipper Meg Lanning was left ruing another missed opportunity but credited Mumbai Indians for their stellar performance.
“We have had another good season but unfortunately could not get over the line. Full credit to Mumbai – they have been excellent throughout and thoroughly deserved their win. We could not get it together with the bat, 150 was a good target for us. Another partnership for a couple of overs might have given us a chance. We are all pretty disappointed.”
She also addressed the debate about having a long break before the final, dismissing it as a major factor.
“I don’t think there is any right or wrong way to do it and about performing on the night, and they were too good for us tonight. We have not been able to put our best performances on the board in the final, which is disappointing but that is cricket. We prepped to do as well as we could. It has been different each time. We put ourselves in a good position, but you win some, you lose some.”
For MI captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who was also named Player of the Match, this victory was a testament to the team’s resilience and preparation.
“It was a great team effort. I would like to congratulate the Delhi team; it was not easy for us. At the end of the day, you feel happy, really happy with the way we played. We fought till the last ball, all about being there and doing the right things again and again.”
She highlighted her approach with the bat, emphasizing the importance of partnerships.
“It was not easy when I went in. But I had that belief that if I stayed there and kept rotating strike, and with Nat there, I did not need to take risks. Just wanted to support her. Partnership was amazing, I wanted to keep things simple and easy. We took calculated risks and that helped us.”
Harmanpreet also heaped praise on MI’s bowlers for their match-winning performance.
“150 was not a decent total, but in matches like that, pressure games, it always looks like 180 and credit goes to our bowlers. They had that belief they could give us breakthroughs in the powerplay. They (Ismail and Sciver-Brunt) created that opportunity for us and got us the game. Really happy the way everyone bowled in the team today.”
She further acknowledged the clarity in roles within the squad, which played a crucial role in MI’s success.
“We made things very clear for everyone, had one-to-one meetings to clear their roles. We knew we had four experienced bowlers, and we knew whoever is in the game that day, we will give them the opportunity to do that (bowl those four overs) for us. They (Ishaque, Amanjot, Gupta) knew their roles and really enjoyed playing with them.”
The title was a moment of redemption for MI after falling short last season, and Harmanpreet was proud of the team’s ability to bounce back.
“It (this win) means a lot. First season, we tried to do everything right. When we met this season, we discussed how things did not go right (last season). We wanted to keep things simple and as a team, we did that. Really happy we got support from the support staff, and really happy the way we played.”
With this victory, Mumbai Indians have firmly established themselves as the powerhouse of the WPL. Their ability to absorb pressure and step up in crunch moments was on full display, proving why they are a force to be reckoned with. As DC’s wait for a title continues, MI basks in the glory of yet another championship triumph.
Loves all things female cricket
