In a fierce match at Brabourne Stadium, the Mumbai Indians (MI) defeated the Gujarat Giants (GG) by an exciting nine runs in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025, extending their supremacy. In addition to securing MI’s top spot in the table, this victory moved them closer to guaranteeing a place in the final.
The match had the small crowd on the edge of their seats with its combination of brilliant moments, disciplined bowling, and powerful batting, making it a thrilling contest for cricket enthusiasts following Bet Pro Exchange.
Harmanpreet Kaur Leads from the Front
Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain of MI, once again demonstrated why she is one of the league’s most feared hitters. She scored a scorching 54 off just 31 balls, smashing her third half-century in four appearances. Throughout her innings, she used a variety of creative strokes, such as a reverse sweep off the back of her bat that startled the opposition. MI scored a respectable 179 for 6 thanks to Harmanpreet’s aggressive style, which set the tone for the innings.
Bharti Fulmali’s Heroics in Vain
Despite MI’s outstanding batting, Bharti Fulmali of the Gujarat Giants grabbed the spotlight with a spectacular performance. Fulmali counterattacked after reaching a perilous 70 for 5, blasting her first WPL fifty off 22 balls. She hit two huge sixes off Amelia Kerr and three straight boundaries off Nat Sciver-Brunt throughout her innings. GG recovered thanks to Fulmali’s daring batting, but MI won the match after she was dismissed in the 17th over. Despite her valiant efforts, GG finished at 170 for 9, nine runs short of victory.
MI’s Bowling Holds Nerve in Tense Finish
To defend their total, MI’s bowlers put on a disciplined display. Amelia Kerr and Shabnim Ismail were the most impressive players, with five wickets. While Kerr’s variations held the GG hitters in check, Ismail’s scorching spell included the vital dismissals of Ashleigh Gardner and Phoebe Litchfield. Additionally, MI benefited from the absence of dew, which made it challenging for GG to accelerate in the closing moments of the pursuit.
Opening Woes Continue for Mumbai Indians
For the second consecutive game, MI struggled with their opening partnership. Amelia Kerr, promoted to open the batting, found it challenging to rotate the strike and was eventually run out. However, Hayley Matthews and Nat Sciver-Brunt steadied the ship with a brisk partnership in the powerplay. Matthews, in particular, was aggressive, blasting two sixes in the first six overs. Despite the early problems, MI managed to record a reasonable total, mainly contributions from their middle order.
The Kaurs Power MI to a Strong Finish
Harmanpreet Kaur and Amanjot Kaur took over when Matthews was out, scoring 59 runs off 40 balls. Amanjot had a vital cameo of 27 off 15 balls while batting at No. 5 for just the second time in the WPL. MI gained the momentum they required in the last overs thanks to her 4, 4, 6 off Kashvee Gautam sequence in the 17th over. MI reached 55 runs in the final four overs thanks to Harmanpreet’s half-century and Amanjot’s fireworks, posing a challenging goal for GG.
Early Strikes Put Gujarat Giants on the Backfoot
After losing starter Beth Mooney in the opening over, GG’s chase got rough. Promoted to start the innings, Kashvee Gautam found it challenging to keep up with Shabnim Ismail’s pace and swing, scoring nine runs off twelve balls before being out. GG’s hopes were further dashed when Ashleigh Gardner was fired for a duck. At 70 for 5, GG was in serious trouble despite Harleen Deol’s brief fight, but Fulmali’s blitz gave them hope.
What’s Next for Mumbai Indians?
With this victory, MI tied the Delhi Capitals at 10 points, but their net run rate was slightly lower. In their last league match, they take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru; a victory will ensure their direct passage to the championship game. However, GG will have to get back together and concentrate on the elimination round, when they will play the team that finished in second place.
Coach Klinger’s Bold Strategy
GG coach Michael Klinger disclosed after the game that they intended to chase down the target in 18 overs to increase their net run rate and take the lead in the standings. Fulmali’s brilliant innings demonstrated that GG has the firepower to contend with any club in the competition, even though the plan didn’t work out.
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Final Thoughts
The Mumbai Indians’ triumph over the Gujarat Giants demonstrated their versatility and capacity to perform under duress. Because of Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership and the team’s collective efforts, MI is well-positioned to win the WPL 2025 championship. However, GG will try to recover in the elimination round after finding inspiration in Fulmali’s performance. The competition intensifies as the league stage draws close, indicating more exciting matches in the days ahead.
