Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians have been right here earlier than. In 2023, it was these two heavyweights that squared off in the grand finale of the inaugural Women’s Premier League and vied for the tag of champion. On that March evening at the Brabourne Stadium, a brisk stroll away from Marine Drive, Harmanpreet Kaur’s staff was medical and celebrated with the glittering trophy by its facet.
With the third season having had an extended span and traversed extra venues, an indicator of the T20 league’s regular progress, there’s arguably higher satisfaction to be derived from prevailing in Saturday’s high-stakes battle at this iconic venue. Which staff that will likely be, although, is anyone’s guess.
Both outfits are brimming with match-winners. For Mumbai Indians, its A-listers got here to the fore in some type in opposition to Gujarat Giants in the Eliminator on Thursday. Hayley Matthews and Nat Sciver-Brunt predictably set the tone, stitching collectively a 133-run partnership that just about batted GG out of the contest. Their significance to MI on Saturday can’t be overstated, for they’ve the calibre to activate the change in a trice. Their numbers are imposing: Sciver-Brunt’s 493 runs are the most by anybody this season. Matthews is third in the checklist with 304 runs, and additionally leads the wicket-takers’ tally with 17 scalps. Amelia Kerr, one other MI star, is an in depth second with 16 scalps. There’s additionally the tempo of Shabnim Ismail to cope with.
Such pedigree might overawe most groups, however Delhi Capitals has a squad of comparable stature. In Meg Lanning and Shafali Verma, it has a gap duo that gives a strong basis persistently. While Jemimah Rodrigues hasn’t been amongst the runs this season, Jess Jonassen, Annabel Sutherland and Marizanne Kapp have loads of ammunition in the middle-order.
Just as pertinent will likely be how DC’s bowlers fare in opposition to Sciver-Brunt and Co. Particularly if Shikha Pandey’s new-ball burst doesn’t yield a few breakthroughs, it might exert stress on spinners Jonassen and Minnu Mani.
These subplots can hopefully end in a grand ending to a match that has performed its bit to entertain us over the previous month.
Published – March 14, 2025 05:56 pm IST
