Sanjay Manjrekar and Harmanpreet Kaur. (Photo Source – Twitter/X)
Mumbai Indians marched into the final of the ongoing Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 with a convincing 47-run victory over Gujarat Giants in the Eliminator on Thursday, March 13, at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai.
While Hayley Matthews and Nat Sciver-Brunt displayed brilliance with the bat, captain Harmanpreet Kaur played a short yet impactful innings, which made the difference at the end. Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar, while analysing the game, praised Harmanpreet’s fiery knock and called her one of the most dangerous hitters in the game today.
After being put in to bat first, the Mumbai-based franchise posted the highest-ever total in a WPL knockout fixture, scoring 213/4 in 20 overs. Matthews (77 off 50) and Sciver-Brunt (77 off 41) stitched a massive 133-run stand for the second wicket.
Kaur walked in towards the end of the innings and made sure she built upon the platform set by her teammates. The 36-year-old smashed 36 runs off just 12 balls at a strike rate of 300, hitting two fours and four sixes. Her cameo guided the side past the 200-run mark.
“Harmanpreet came in at a stage where she had no choice but to start hitting from ball one. With the kind of platform set before her, a total of 220 was in sight. At that point, the pitch was still a little slow, and Gujarat Giants made the right call by bringing in their slower bowlers. The boundaries weren’t too small either, but despite those factors, Harmanpreet wasted no time in accelerating,” Manjrekar said on JioHotstar.
“From her second ball onward, she was playing the difficult shots, and what stood out was how she found the gaps with ease. It was a great reminder of what sets her apart. Unlike some batters who find the fielders early in their innings, Harman instinctively finds the gaps, making her one of the most dangerous hitters in the game today,” he added,
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At one stage Gujarat Giants were in the contest as a team: Sanjay Manjrekar
In response, the Gujarat Giants faced early setbacks as Beth Mooney (6 off 5) and Ashleigh Gardner (8 off 4) departed early. Danielle Gibson (34 off 24) and Phoebe Litchfield (31 off 20) showed some fight, but their efforts weren’t enough, as Gujarat was bundled out for 166 in 19.2 overs. Hayley Matthews (3/31) and Amelia Kerr (2/28) were the wrecker-in-chief with the ball for Mumbai. The former mentioned Mumbai’s overall performance, which helped them to qualify for the final for the second time in the history of the competition.
“At the halfway stage, you would have thought Mumbai Indians were the favorites to win. A 200-plus total is always a big score, but the dew came in and made things easier for the chasing side. However, Hayley Matthews wasn’t done yet. After her brilliant performance with the bat, she had more to offer with the ball.
“Her wicket of Ashleigh Gardner was the turning point—arguably the most crucial dismissal of the match. That breakthrough, along with a couple more, completely shifted the momentum. At one stage, Gujarat Giants were in the contest as a team, but in the end, there was just one true giant on the field tonight Hayley Matthews for Mumbai Indians,” he added.
Speaking about Gujarat’s chase, Manjrekar reckoned that Gujarat did not show the same aggressive intent with the bat that the winning team displayed earlier in the game. He also said that no one from Gujarat stepped up.
“The conditions at this stadium always give the chasing team some hope. We saw it in the last game when Mumbai Indians almost pulled off a 200-run chase against RCB, even when it seemed out of reach. However, chasing a mammoth total requires both skill and ability, and it’s always a tough task. When you look at how Hayley Matthews and Nat Sciver-Brunt stepped up, it was remarkable. And then, Harmanpreet Kaur’s cameo—despite her name not even featuring prominently in the batting card—was one of the most impactful performances of the game. A strike rate of 300 in such a high-pressure situation is extraordinary. To chase that total, Gujarat needed someone to replicate that kind of inning,” the former concluded.
With this performance, the Kaur-led side extended their unbeaten run against Gujarat, having defeated them for the seventh consecutive time in WPL history. They will now face the Delhi Capitals in the final on Saturday, March 15, a repeat of the inaugural WPL final in 2023.
Disclaimer: This latest news is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.
