🏏WPL 2025: Mumbai Indians Women vs Delhi Capitals Women, Final 🏏 - Page 23

MI, on the other hand, are banking on this familiarity gained with the CCI over this week. "In a way it is an advantage because we know the conditions really well," Harmanpreet Kaur said on Friday. "We played three games in four days, and we know what area to bowl, how to bat and how to execute yourself in a better way in which overs, and in which overs we need to maybe hold back and not lose too many wickets. We've understood a lot of things in the three games here - how to bat, how to bowl, and day by day we have seen that improvement."

Not that rhythm or history holds much water when it comes to the big final, DC did pull off the double against MI in two very contrasting games this WPL. A nerve-wracking final-ball one-wicket victory in their tournament opener in Vadodara may not have been the most convincing, or DC-like of them, but a much more comprehensive - one-sided even - thrashing in Bengaluru admittedly had the Capitals finding their peak just at the right time with a near-perfect game. Courtesy of that, Lanning & co. also enjoy an overall 4-3 edge over the hosts in head-to-head records, even as MI memorably clinched the first of the three finals the Capitals have been a part of to be crowned the inaugural champions in 2023.

Battle-hardened Mumbai will be out to remedy the hurt of the narrow defeat in last year's Eliminator, following a batting capitulation that robbed them of a chance to defend their title. On the other hand, after making a third straight final without taking the Eliminator detour, DC would be eager to stamp their authority with a trophy that has eluded them twice in as many years.

Pitch Report

In the three games played at the Brabourne Stadium in WPL 2025, the average first innings score is 197. All three games have been won by teams batting first. Teams have been reluctant to bat first in the tournament, but putting runs on the board could be a good ploy in a high-pressure match.

What to expect: A fresh, batting-friendly pitch is in store for the finale that might later also assist the slower bowlers. Despite the significant presence of dew, all three games at this venue have been won by sides batting first, having yielded first-innings totals in three different ranges. Chasing has been preferred throughout the season, but MI did admit after the Eliminator that being asked to bat first turned out to be a blessing in disguise on a new track, and may well be the case for the final as well.

Team News

Mumbai Indians: MI restored their opening combination and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur did not seem too displeased with Yastika's impact knock up top. Expect that to stay the same for the final. The home side may bring back Parunika Sisodia though, leaving Saika Ishaque on the bench once more.

Probable XI: Hayley Matthews, Amelia Kerr, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Amanjot Kaur, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Sajeevan Sajana, G Kamalini, Sanskriti Gupta, Shabnim Ismail, Saika Ishaque/Parunika Sisodia

Delhi Capitals: Titas Sadhu could be the one making way for an extra spin option, likely N Charani.

Probable XI: Meg Lanning (C), Shafali Verma, Jess Jonassen, Jemimah Rodrigues, Annabel Sutherland, Marizanne Kapp, Sarah Bryce (wk), Niki Prasad, Minnu Mani, Shikha Pandey, Titas Sadhu/N Charani .

Did you know?

- The average first innings score at the CCI in WPL 2025 is 197

- Of the eight batters across the two teams who have at least a 100 runs at this venue in WPL, neither had a better average than Meg Lanning's 84.75. Nat Sciver-Brunt is the leading run-scorer here with a tally of 535 runs in 12 innings at 76.42

- Shabnim Ismail has dismissed the DC openers Lanning and Shafali Verma five times each in all T20s

- Marizanne Kapp has had the wood over Hayley Matthews, dismissing the West Indies batter 10 times in 34 T20 innings

Meg Lanning-led Delhi Capitals got a direct entry into the finals after finishing on top of the points table at the end of the double round-robin phase. They notched up five wins and lost three games out of the eight they played. Meanwhile, Mumbai finished second with the same number of wins and losses. However, their net run-rate (NRR) was +0.192 compared to Delhi's +0.396.

Mumbai defeated Gujarat Giants by 47 runs in the Eliminator to progress to the final. They amassed 213/4 in their 20 overs before dismissing Gujarat for 166. The finalists have already faced each other twice this season, with Delhi winning in both. The Capitals won the first encounter in Vadodara by two wickets and the second in Bengaluru by nine wickets.

DEL-W vs MUM-W Probable Best performers

Probable best batter: Nat Sciver-Brunt

Nat Sciver-Brunt. (Photo Source- BCCI)

Nat Sciver-Brunt has been an epitome of consistency with the bat in WPL 2025. She is the leading run-getter, amassing 493 runs in nine innings at a staggering average of 70.43 and a stunning strike rate of 156.51. The England all-rounder has registered five fifties this season, including a 41-ball 77 in the Eliminator. She will want to finish the tournament with another match-winning performance on Saturday.

Probable best bowler: Hayley Matthews

Hayley Matthews WPL 2025 ( photo source : X / Twitter )

Hayley Matthews picked up three wickets in the Eliminator to become the leading wicket-taker in the tournament. She has bagged 17 wickets from nine matches at an average of 15.88. The West Indies skipper has a strike rate of 11.76. The off-spinner's four-over spell will be crucial in the final.

Today's Match Prediction: Team batting first to win the match

Scenario 1

• Delhi Capitals Women win the toss and bowl
• PP score - 50-60
• MUM-W- 180-200
• Mumbai Indians Women win the match

Scenario 2

• Mumbai Indians Women win the toss and bowl
• PP Score - 50-60
• DEL-W - 170-190
• Delhi Capitals Women win the match

Delhi will play their third consecutive WPL final, but are yet to win the tournament. They faced MI and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, respectively, in the first two seasons and lost on both counts.

DC defeated Gujarat Giants in their final league fixture, earning them a direct entry into the final. They have won five out of eight league matches to finish at the top of the table.

MI, on the other hand, will be making their second appearance in the WPL final. They are the inaugural champions of the competition, having defeated DC in the final of the WPL 2023. The Mumbai-based franchise made it to the final after handing Gujarat a 47-run defeat in the eliminator encounter. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side finished second with 5 wins and 10 points after 8 matches. They had a lower Net Run Rate than DC.

DCW vs MIW: Head to head record

In the WPL league stage, Delhi Capitals have an advantage of a 4-2 head-to-head record over the Mumbai Indians.

However, both sides met in the final in the inaugural season where MI came out with the win and the championship.

Being a die hard MI fan, obviously I want MI to win.

But , if delhi wins, it will be their first title.

Also, i want them to win for shafali and jemima.

I like both of them.

ALL THE BEST TO BOTH THE TEAMS👍👍