Mumbai captain credits teamwork and clear strategies as they defend their crown against Delhi Capitals
Mumbai, March 16 – Harmanpreet Kaur’s Mumbai Indians once again reigned supreme in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), clinching their second consecutive title with a thrilling 8-run win over Delhi Capitals on Saturday. Leading from the front, Harmanpreet anchored the innings with a match-winning 66 off 44 balls, ensuring Mumbai had enough on the board to defend.
Reflecting on the victory, Harmanpreet credited her team’s all-round effort and strategic clarity.
“It is a great team effort. Congrats to Delhi for the way they played. It was not easy for us. When you win, you are really happy. We didn’t start well, but doing the right things at the right time was important,” she said at the post-match presentation.
Harmanpreet & Sciver-Brunt Anchor Mumbai’s Innings
After losing early wickets, Mumbai Indians recovered through a crucial partnership between Harmanpreet and Nat Sciver-Brunt (30).
🔹 Mumbai struggled early at 14/2 as Marizanne Kapp (2/11) struck twice.
🔹 Harmanpreet (66 off 44, 9 fours, 2 sixes) and Sciver-Brunt (30) stitched together an 89-run stand, stabilizing the innings.
🔹 A late collapse saw Amelia Kerr (2), Sajeevan Sajana (0), and Harmanpreet depart quickly, but Amanjot Kaur (14) and Sanskriti Gupta (8) added crucial runs**, pushing Mumbai to 149/7.
“It wasn’t easy when I went to bat, but I had belief. With Nat at the other end, I knew I didn’t need to take too much pressure. We took calculated risks, and that helped,” Harmanpreet added.
Mumbai’s Bowlers Hold Their Nerve to Defend 150
Delhi Capitals, chasing 150 for their maiden title, once again crumbled under pressure in the final.
🔹 Meg Lanning (13) and Shafali Verma (4) fell early, leaving Delhi at 37/3.
🔹 Jemimah Rodrigues (30) tried to fight back, but her dismissal to Amelia Kerr (2/25) worsened Delhi’s situation.
🔹 Marizanne Kapp (40) and Niki Prasad (25) staged a brief fightback*, but Kapp’s wicket to Nat Sciver-Brunt (3/30) ended their hopes.
🔹 Delhi’s lower order collapsed, with Shikha Pandey (0) and Minnu Mani (4) falling quickly, sealing Mumbai’s victory.
“150 may not seem like a big total, but in pressure games, it feels like 180. Credit to our bowlers for giving us early breakthroughs,” Harmanpreet said.
She praised Shabnim Ismail, Saika Ishaque, and Amelia Kerr for their disciplined spells, ensuring Delhi finished at 141/9.
Mumbai Indians: The Undisputed WPL Champions
With this win, Mumbai Indians reaffirmed their status as the most dominant force in the Women’s Premier League, becoming the first team to defend their title successfully.
“It means a lot. Last season, we made some mistakes. This time, we kept things simple and focused on executing our plans. I’m really happy with how we played as a team,” Harmanpreet concluded.
As Mumbai celebrates their latest triumph, Delhi Capitals must regroup after yet another final heartbreak.
Can Lanning’s side finally break their title curse next season?
Brief Scores:
🔹 Mumbai Indians: 149/7 (Harmanpreet Kaur 66, Nat Sciver-Brunt 30; Marizanne Kapp 2/11)
🔹 Delhi Capitals: 141/9 (Marizanne Kapp 40, Jemimah Rodrigues 30; Nat Sciver-Brunt 3/30)