Mumbai Indians clinched their second Women’s Premier League (WPL) title after defeating Delhi Capitals by eight runs on March 17, 2025. The nail-biter thrilling conclusion unfolded at the Brabourne Stadium, where Mumbai set a target of 150 runs. All-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt proved invaluable for Mumbai, taking 3 wickets for 30 runs and scoring 30 runs, helping her team secure the title.
Delhi Capitals, having won the toss, opted to bowl first. They made a solid start, managing to restrict Mumbai to 20 runs for the loss of 2 wickets at the end of the powerplay. The early dismissals included Hayley Matthews, who scored just 3 runs, and Yastika Bhatia who contributed 8 runs. It seemed like the Capitals were shaping the match as they aimed for redemption after suffering losses in previous finals.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Sciver-Brunt then stepped up, forming what would be the backbone of Mumbai's innings. Their partnership of 89 runs was pivotal. The duo displayed excellent synergy, accumulating 13 boundaries between them. Things changed when Shree Charani managed to dismiss Sciver-Brunt. The wickets began to fall quickly, as Jess Jonassen took two wickets within three balls, leading to what's described as a mini-collapse.
Despite the setbacks, Mumbai finished their innings at 149 for 7, thanks to late contributions from Kamalini Gunalan (10 runs) and Amanjot Kaur, who remained not out on 14 runs. The team managed to score 45 runs from the last five overs, setting up what looked to be a defendable total.
Chasing 150 runs, the Capitals also faced several challenges. While Marizanne Kapp and Jemimah Rodrigues showed resilience, scoring 40 and 30 runs respectively, the overall batting performance fell short. The Capitals finished their 20 overs at 141 for 9, falling just 8 runs short. The inning's conclusion saw Kapp visibly emotional, as this marked the third consecutive time the Delhi Capitals succumbed to Mumbai Indians in the WPL finals.
Reflecting on her performance and the season, Sciver-Brunt commented: "It has been a great year for me in the WPL. To come off the back of a lot of cricket, I'm so happy to be standing here as a winner. I will ride the highs as long as I can because I am sure there are some lows around the corner as well - but that's cricket. Just happy to ride those highs whilst I can."
The victory sentiment was palpable as the crowd erupted, celebrating the success of Mumbai Indians. Under the leadership of Kaur, the team demonstrated not just skill but also resilience, bouncing back from previous pressures.
This win marks another milestone for Mumbai Indians, following their success last year, solidifying their position as one of the premier teams of the WPL. With the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season on the horizon, beginning on March 22, speculation will now turn to how this victory might influence the forthcoming games and the expected performances of players.
The Mumbai Indians have set the bar high. Fans are now left wondering if they can repeat this success once they transition to the full-scale format of the IPL, hoping to maintain their winning streak under similar high-pressure scenarios.
Overall, this match not only highlighted the exceptional skills of individuals such as Sciver-Brunt but also illustrated the thrilling competitiveness of the Women’s Premier League, promising even more excitement as cricket season continues.
