Mumbai Indians Aim for Second WPL Final Spot Against Gujarat Giants in Eliminator
The Mumbai Indians (MI) are set to battle Gujarat Giants in the Eliminator of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 on Thursday, March 13, at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium. A win will propel MI into their second WPL final, as they aim to become the first team to lift the trophy twice.
For the third consecutive season, MI finished second in the points table, securing five wins out of eight games. Despite narrowly missing out on a direct final berth due to net run rate, the inaugural WPL champions remain a formidable force.
MI kicked off their campaign with a loss to Delhi Capitals but bounced back with three consecutive victories. They added two more wins in their final four matches to secure a spot in the top three.
As they gear up to face Gujarat Giants, MI will be banking on their strong team composition. Let’s take a closer look at their probable Playing XI for the Eliminator:
Openers: Hayley Matthews, Amelia Kerr
The duo of Hayley Matthews and Amelia Kerr is expected to open the innings. Their role will be crucial in providing a solid start as MI eyes a place in the final.
Middle Order: Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Amanjot Kaur, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Sajeevan Sajana, G Kamalini
Nat Sciver-Brunt, the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 416 runs in eight games, will spearhead MI’s batting. Her all-round contributions, including eight wickets, make her a key player.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, with 200 runs so far, will look to lead from the front. Amanjot Kaur and Yastika Bhatia will aim to bounce back after underwhelming performances in the last game. Sajeevan Sajana’s handy knock of 23 in the previous match and G Kamalini’s potential are expected to retain their spots.
Bowlers: Sanskriti Gupta, Shabnim Ismail, Parunika Sisodia
MI is likely to stick with the same bowling combination from their last game. Shabnim Ismail, the pace spearhead, will look to improve after conceding 41 runs without a wicket in her previous outing.
Spinners Sanskriti Gupta and Parunika Sisodia will also aim to make an impact after struggling in the last match.
With a balanced squad and a hunger for success, Mumbai Indians will be confident of overcoming Gujarat Giants and advancing to the WPL 2025 final.
