Mumbai Indians W clinch second WPL title with thrilling 8-run win against Delhi Capitals W

In a nail-biting climax of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025, Mumbai Indians Women defeated Delhi Capitals Women by a mere 8 runs on March 15, 2025, at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. This was Mumbai’s second WPL win in three seasons, solidifying their position as one of the competition’s most powerful teams in its short existence. Mumbai, led by an outstanding performance from skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and a clutch effort from Nat Sciver-Brunt, kept their composure in a nail-biting finale to deny Delhi their first WPL title.

After losing the toss, the Mumbai Indians Women batted first and were swiftly put under pressure by Delhi’s bowling assault. Marizanne Kapp, Delhi’s best bowler, despatched opener Hayley Matthews for five, while Shikha Pandey removed Yastika Bhatia, leaving Mumbai at 14/2 after five overs. Kapp’s burst of 2 for 11 in four overs was a masterpiece in speed bowling, swinging the ball both ways and troubling Mumbai’s top order.

Harmanpreet Kaur, on the other hand, came in with a definite goal in mind: to stabilise the innings. She and Nat Sciver-Brunt put up a crucial 89-run stand for the third wicket, which turned the game around. Harmanpreet’s 66 off 44 balls was a captain’s knock under duress, complete with nine fours and two sixes that demonstrated her ability to dominate even on a difficult surface. Sciver-Brunt supported her with a consistent 30 from 28 balls, keeping Mumbai in the game.

Just as Mumbai appeared to be heading for a dramatic finish, Delhi battled back. Nallapureddy Charani ended the collaboration by firing Sciver-Brunt, resulting in a mini-collapse. Harmanpreet was quickly defeated by Annabel Sutherland, and Mumbai dropped from 103/2 to 118/6. However, a late cameo by Amanjot Kaur (14* off 7 balls) enabled Mumbai record a challenging 149/7 in 20 overs. While not an impressive total, it was enough on a field that aided bowlers.

The Delhi Capitals Women struggled to get off to a good start in their pursuit of 150. Captain Meg Lanning (8) and Shafali Verma (4) were dismissed cheaply early in the powerplay, thanks to the disciplined bowling of Shabnim Ismail and Nat Sciver-Brunt. Jess Jonassen’s abrupt exit further harmed Delhi’s chances, leaving them at 37/3 by the sixth over. Mumbai’s bowlers, headed by Sciver-Brunt, kept the pressure on, with Amelia Kerr coming in to remove Jemimah Rodrigues (30), who had momentarily stabilised the situation.

At 83/6 after losing Sarah Bryce to a run-out, Delhi’s pursuit appeared to be finished. Marizanne Kapp, on the other hand, gave them hope with a spirited 40 off 28 balls. Kapp, along with debutant Niki Prasad (25* off 23), took the attack to Mumbai’s bowlers, hitting boundaries off Hayley Matthews and Saika Ishaque. Her strong determination reduced the equation to 29 off 18 balls, and the Brabourne audience erupted with excitement.

Kapp’s dismissal in the 18th over, caught at long-off by Sciver-Brunt, shifted the momentum back to Mumbai. With 14 runs required from the last over and only one wicket in hand, the pressure was great. Sciver-Brunt, given the ball, kept her cool, surrendering only 5 runs and securing the game as Delhi concluded at 141/9.

Harmanpreet Kaur’s 66 won her the Player of the Match title, deserved acknowledgement for her game-changing play. Nat Sciver-Brunt’s all-around brilliance—30 runs and 3/30 with the ball—demonstrated her significance to the squad, winning her Player of the Tournament recognition. Kapp’s early wickets and late resilience with the bat were notable for Delhi, but they were unable to break their finals curse.

The pivotal moment occurred in the middle overs of Delhi’s chase. Mumbai’s spinners, Kerr and Matthews, tightened the screws, and Sciver-Brunt’s twin strike in the 18th over dashed Delhi’s comeback aspirations. Sciver-Brunt’s heroics in the last over guaranteed Mumbai’s victory, much to the pleasure of their loyal home crowd.

This victory underlined the Mumbai Indians Women’s ability to produce under pressure, which has defined their WPL career. After winning the maiden title in 2023 versus Delhi, they proved too powerful in the top showdown. For the Delhi Capitals Women, it was a matter of so close, yet so distant. Despite winning the league and reaching the final for the third time in a row, they have yet to win a trophy, a storyline that haunts Meg Lanning’s side.

Harmanpreet Kaur won the WPL trophy in front of her happy colleagues, as fireworks lit up the Mumbai sky. The victory not only established Mumbai’s supremacy, but it also paved the way for an exciting future in women’s cricket, with rivalries like this one promising to fascinate spectators for years.