MI Eye Direct Final Spot, RCB Seek to End on a High
Mumbai Indians (MI) came close to securing a direct entry into the WPL 2025 final on Monday but fell short after Gujarat Giants managed to cross the 156-run mark. However, MI still clinched victory and maintained their unbeaten record at the Brabourne Stadium. Now, they have another chance to finish at the top of the table, as they stand level on points with Delhi Capitals.
Their key concern—if any—would be the tight turnaround, with this match scheduled within 24 hours of their previous outing. While shifting Amelia Kerr to the opening slot hasn’t paid off yet, MI will take confidence from the fact that Nat Sciver-Brunt didn’t have to shoulder the burden alone. Harmanpreet Kaur returned to form with a crucial half-century, while the middle order chipped in with valuable contributions. MI’s bowlers were dominant early on, and despite some stumbles in the chase, they defended 179 effectively on a batting-friendly pitch.
For Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), it’s been a season of missed opportunities. The defending champions struggled with the toss in all four of their home games at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, repeatedly having to bat first on a ground where seven of eight matches were won by the chasing team.
Their playoff hopes officially ended after a high-scoring thriller against UP Warriorz, and they now enter this match on a five-game losing streak. Throughout the season, RCB have relied heavily on a few key players, while their weakened bowling attack has struggled. After being taken down by the already-eliminated Warriorz in their last game, RCB will now aim to return the favor by disrupting MI’s chances of finishing at the top.
Form Guide
Mumbai Indians: WWLWW (last five matches, most recent first)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: LLLLL
Team News
MI are expected to retain their winning combination.
Mumbai Indians (probable XI):
- Hayley Matthews
- Amelia Kerr
- Nat Sciver-Brunt
- Harmanpreet Kaur (capt)
- Amanjot Kaur
- Yastika Bhatia (wk)
- G Kamalini
- S Sajana
- Sanskriti Gupta
- Shabnim Ismail
- Parunika Sisodia
RCB made two changes in their previous match, bringing in S Meghana and Charlie Dean for Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Ekta Bisht. While Meghana provided a quick start, Dean had a tough outing with the ball, conceding 47 runs in four overs.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (probable XI):
- Smriti Mandhana (capt)
- S Meghana
- Ellyse Perry
- Raghvi Bisht
- Richa Ghosh (wk)
- Kanika Ahuja
- Georgia Wareham
- Sneh Rana
- Charlie Dean
- Kim Garth
- Renuka Singh
Players to Watch
Harmanpreet Kaur (MI)
MI skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s return to form is a huge boost for her team. After modest scores of 4, 22, and 4*, she delivered a crucial 54-run knock to propel MI to 179. She has been exceptional at the Brabourne Stadium, recording three fifties in four innings in the WPL, and will look to capitalize on the home advantage as MI push for their second title.
Sneh Rana (RCB)
Sneh Rana made a strong impact in her first game for RCB, taking 3 for 27 against UP Warriorz. She also smashed 25 runs off just five balls against Deepti Sharma, nearly pulling off a massive chase. Despite her potential, she has been underutilized with the ball this season, bowling her full quota in only one out of four games.
Key Stats
- This is the second time RCB have lost five consecutive matches in a WPL season, with the first instance occurring in 2023.
- MI’s Nat Sciver-Brunt leads the tournament’s run charts, while Amelia Kerr tops the wicket-taking standings.
With MI aiming for a top-table finish and RCB seeking redemption, the clash promises to be an intense battle.
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