Mumbai Indians. (Photo Source: WPL)
Harmanpreet Kaur’s Mumbai Indians made a dream start to their Women’s Premier League 2023 campaign after annihilating the Gujarat Giants in the opening match of the tournament. The Mumbai-based outfit made an absolute mockery of their opponents, defeating them by 143 runs after setting a daunting total of 207 runs in their first innings.
Skipper Harmanpeet Kaur led from the front with an enthralling 65 off 30 deliveries, supported by brisk assaults from Hayley Matthews and Amelia Kerr. Her bowlers never let the Gujarat Giants out of their sights and kept chipping at the wickets. Saika Ishaque completed the demolition job for her skipper with a brilliant bowling spell which saw her dismiss four Gujarat batters.
But the upcoming game against the Royal Challengers Bangalore will provide a fresh challenge to the Mumbai Indians, who are looking like the team to beat after their sensational opening game.
Here’s Mumbai Indians predicted XI for the first match against Royal Challengers Bangalore:
Openers – Yastika Bhatia (wk), Hayley Matthews
India wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia was the only Mumbai Indians player who failed to impress with the bat. The 22-year-old elegant batter was dismissed in the third over after scoring just one run in eight deliveries. She will be hoping to put that poor outing behind her when she takes the field against RCB.
While her opening partner departed cheaply in the campaign opener, Hayley Matthews ensured a steady start for her side with a counter-attacking 47 off just 31 deliveries. She smashed four maximums during her stay at the crease and was looking on course for a brilliant half-century before Ashleigh Gardner rattled her stumps to bring a halt to the procession.
Middle order – Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (c)
Following the early dismissal of Yastika Bhatia Mumbai Indians surprised a few by sending in Nat Sciver-Brunt ahead of Amelia Kerr. However, the experienced English batting ace compiled a steady partnership with Hayley Matthews to complete a swift recovery for her side. She grabbed two wickets with the ball as well, completing a memorable outing.
Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was unconsolable after India’s exit from the T20 World Cup and she looked in a vengeful mood when she walked into the middle against the Gujarat Giants. Apart from a streaky boundary at the start of her innings, she nailed almost every delivery in a swashbuckling 65 off just 30 deliveries, registering the first half-century of the tournament.
All-rounders – Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Pooja Vastrakar
While Harmanpreet Kaur stole the show with her explosive innings, New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr wasn’t too far behind her skipper during the campaign opener. She compiled a breathtaking 45 runs in just 24 deliveries to take her side to a daunting total. The 22-year-old also starred with the ball, returning with figures of 2/12, which included a double wicket maiden.
Indian fast bowling all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar also chipped in with a brisk cameo at the fag end of the innings to ensure a brilliant finish to the Mumbai Indians innings. She smashed three boundaries in her eight-ball stay at the crease and conceded just nine runs in her bowling spell. However, her compatriot, Amanjot Kaur, was a spectator for most of the match as she didn’t get a chance to either bat or ball in the first game of the tournament.
Bowlers – Issy Wong, Humaira Kazi, Saika Ishaque, Jintimani Kalita
England’s young Issy Wong might not want to bat again in the tournament as she currently holds a strike rate of 600 after dispatching her very first ball for a maximum on the last delivery of the Mumbai Indians innings. The 20-year-old seamer scalped the big wicket of Ashleigh Gardner in her very first over of the tournament to peg back the Gujarat Giants.
Humaira Kazi was another Mumbai Indians player who did not have much to do in the game. However, her compatriot Saika Ishaque ran through the Gujarat lower middle order like a knife through butter. The left-arm spinner cleaned up Annabel Sutherland in her very first over and hammered the final nail in the coffin after cleaning up Monica Patel, returning with exceptional bowling figures of 4/11.
Mumbai Indians playing XI: Hayley Matthews, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Pooja Vastrakar, Humaira Kazi, Issy Wong, Jintimani Kalita, Saika Ishaque