Exactly a year ago, Mumbai Indians’ players were left heartbroken after losing the Eliminator to eventual Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru in New Delhi. But on Saturday night, the smiles returned as Mumbai Indians defeated Delhi Capitals by eight runs to clinch their second WPL title at the Brabourne Stadium.
Mumbai’s victory was led by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who played a captain’s knock, timing her shots to perfection and top-scoring with 66 runs as the hosts posted 149/7 on a fresh pitch. Defending 150, Nat Sciver-Brunt starred with the ball, claiming 3-30 including the key wicket of Marizanne Kapp, while Amelia Kerr chipped in with 2-25. Their efforts restricted Delhi Capitals to 141/9 in their 20 overs, sealing Mumbai’s WPL 2025 triumph.
“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. They (Delhi Capitals) had won before, but today was a new day, a new match. We had depth in our squad, and we weren’t going to leave this game for anyone else,” said all-rounder Amanjot Kaur.
“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,” added all-rounder Sanskriti Gupta.
Amelia Kerr, who won the T20 World Cup with New Zealand last year, was thrilled to lift another WPL trophy with Mumbai. “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 said. “Kamalini has been awesome. That’s the beauty of this competition—you see young talent stepping up and performing on the big stage. Both players are world-class in what they do, and it’s nice to contribute.”
Kamalini, who won the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup with India earlier this year, was equally delighted to win the WPL title in her maiden season. “I was a little nervous but enjoyed batting a lot. My family must have enjoyed watching too. Hitting my first six was very exciting. Everyone fielded like tigers. I’ve learned a lot about the mental side of cricket in the WPL,” she shared.
Wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia said she was soaking in the incredible feeling of winning the WPL in front of 14,700 home fans. “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 because I don’t have to face them,” she quipped.
Hard-hitting all-rounder Sajeevan Sajana dedicated the title to the support staff, led by head coach Charlotte Edwards. “I’m very proud and happy to be part of this family. The backing, the energy on and off the field—it’s amazing,” she said.
“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, no matter who tries to pull you down. Keep believing and keep working.”
Mumbai Indians bowling coach Jhulan Goswami lauded the performances of Shabnim Ismail and Nat Sciver-Brunt, who finished WPL 2025 as the leading wicket-taker and run-scorer, 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 said.
“When you’re in the dugout, you can’t stay calm, but you have to pretend to be. We needed wickets in the powerplay, and once we got them, we knew we could control the game. That settled the dugout.”
Jhulan also praised Nat’s dedication, highlighting how she played despite her partner, former England pacer Katherine Sciver-Brunt, expecting a baby. “Nat’s commitment is admirable. To take leadership and dominate in such circumstances isn’t easy. And some of our youngsters also performed brilliantly.”
Reflecting on her coaching partnership with Charlotte Edwards, Jhulan said, “After retirement, working with her has been a great learning experience. She’s tactical and keeps me on my toes. Even when we played as opponents, I admired her leadership, and now, I continue to learn from her.”
“This team has immense potential. We have depth in batting, plenty of international stars, promising youngsters—it’s a well-balanced side. It’s crucial to keep them in the right frame of mind and allow them space to enjoy their game,” she added.
Nita Ambani, owner of Mumbai Indians, showered praise on the team for clinching the title again. “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.”
“That batting by Harman, the captain—oh my god! If you saw our dugout, there was never a quiet moment; the claps and cheers kept them going. Two titles in three years.”
“Why just my girls? Give any girl child support and empowerment, and see what they can achieve. I’m a proud owner of the Mumbai Indians today. As a franchise, we’re committed to empowering young girls through sports. Education and sport go hand in hand, and it’s vital parents encourage their daughters to play,” she concluded.
—IANS
