The Mumbai Indians (MI) clinched their second Women’s Premier League (WPL) title after a nail-biting victory over the Delhi Capitals (DC) on March 15, 2025, at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. Under the captaincy of Harmanpreet Kaur, MI won the final by just eight runs, proving their mettle as they played in front of a home crowd of 14,700 fans.
The match started with Mumbai Indians posting a total of 149 runs for 7 wickets. Kaur led by example, scoring a phenomenal 66 runs off 44 balls. Her innings was a crucial factor in MI's victory, especially after they faced a few early collapses. Partnering with Kaur was Natalie Ruth Sciver-Brunt, who contributed 30 runs, providing the stability until the end of the innings. The batting performance set a challenging target for DC.
In reply, the Delhi Capitals struggled to chase down the target. The team managed to score only 141 runs for 9 wickets due to some brilliant bowling from MI. Nat Sciver-Brunt was impressive with the ball, taking 3 wickets for 30 runs, including the key wicket of Marizanne Kapp. Amelia Kerr also shined, finishing with figures of 2 for 25.
“Since we’ve won before, the expectations were higher. But we’ve played big games in the past, so it didn’t feel like a different occasion. Our team meetings are always simple,” said Amanjot Kaur, an all-rounder on the team. She emphasized the depth of MI's squad and stated, “As soon as we reached that score, we knew we would win. I had complete confidence in my team. I’ve been playing cricket for ten years, so it didn’t feel like my first big moment. I want to experience this winning feeling every time.”
Another remarkable player was Amelia Kerr, who expressed her joy after lifting the WPL trophy with MI. “It’s been a special year for me. I’m stoked to share the dressing room with some great people. At the end of the day, you celebrate with good people around you,” she stated. Kerr, who previously won the T20 World Cup with New Zealand, acknowledged the rising talents, specifically mentioning Kamalini, who recently won the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup with India, “Kamalini has been awesome. That’s the beauty of this competition—you see young talent stepping up and performing on the big stage.”
Reflecting on the fantastic support from fans, wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia enjoyed the thrill of winning in front of a home crowd. “There’s no better feeling than winning in front of a home crowd. I enjoy keeping against some of the greats of the game, and I’m lucky to have them in my team,” she quipped.
Furthermore, hard-hitting all-rounder Sajeevan Sajana expressed her pride in being part of the Mumbai Indians' family. She dedicated the title to their support staff, particularly head coach Charlotte Edwards, acknowledging all the hard work that went into their preparation. “We couldn’t make it last season, but this year, we planned well, and a lot of hard work went on behind the scenes. This trophy belongs to everyone who supported us. I’m really proud of myself and want to tell others who look up to me: be positive and never give up,” she said with determination.
Jhulan Goswami, Mumbai Indians’ bowling coach, praised the performances of Shabnim Ismail and Nat Sciver-Brunt, who were the leading wicket-taker and run-scorer of WPL 2025, respectively. “What a brilliant performance. Shabnim is a fighter; she wants to lead from the front, which is exactly what we want as a group,” she remarked, noting how important wickets were during the powerplay to control the game.
She also highlighted Sciver-Brunt’s commitment to the game, especially given personal challenges while her partner is expecting a baby. “Nat’s commitment is admirable. To take leadership and dominate in such circumstances isn’t easy.” Goswami reflected on her collaboration with coach Edwards and noted the immense potential of the MI team as a whole. “This team has immense potential. We have depth in batting, plenty of international stars, promising youngsters—it’s a well-balanced side.”
Nita Ambani, the owner of Mumbai Indians, expressed immense pride in her team’s triumph, stating, “Sitting in the dugout, my heart was racing, but I had full confidence in my girls. Unstoppable! They fought till the last ball. Nat has been outstanding all season and those three wickets she took were fantastic.” She hailed Kaur's exceptional batting performance and emphasized how crucial support and empowerment for girl children in sports is, stating, “Why just my girls? Give any girl child support and empowerment, and see what they can achieve.”
The 2025 WPL saw an impressive display of cricketing talent. Harmanpreet Kaur's remarkable captaincy, combined with the contributions of key players like Sciver-Brunt and Kerr, solidified Mumbai’s reputation as one of the leading teams in women's cricket. Additionally, with Kerr's standout season featuring significant contributions with both bat and ball and Sciver-Brunt’s top position in the runs chart with 493 runs, the tournament crowned several deserving performers. Kaur finished the season with 320 runs, while Amelia Kerr took 16 wickets, a testament to the team's dominance.
As the dust settles on yet another thrilling edition of the WPL, Mumbai Indians stand tall, securing their second title in the tournament's evolving history. With ambitious players and dedicated management, the team looks poised for even greater heights in the future as they continue to inspire women's cricket in India.
