Defending champions and two-time winners Mumbai Indians will lock horns with Gujarat Giants in a high-stakes Women’s Premier League clash on Friday, with the playoff race hanging in the balance. For the Giants, the equation is simple: win and book a second consecutive playoff berth.
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Gujarat Giants currently sit second on the points table with eight points, though a negative net run rate of -0.271 keeps the door ajar for the chasing pack. Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals both trail on six points, with MI holding a superior NRR of +0.146 compared to DC’s -0.164, ensuring the final playoff spot remains fiercely contested.
Playoff equations and pressure scenarios for the Gujarat Giants and the Mumbai Indians
The Giants have their destiny in their own hands. A victory over Harmanpreet Kaur’s Mumbai Indians will seal their place in the playoffs, while a win by a substantial margin could even catapult them straight into the final. However, a narrow defeat could prove fatal—particularly if UP Warriorz get the better of Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Thursday.
Even in the event of a loss on Friday, Gujarat Giants would retain a slim chance of qualifying, but only if UP Warriorz first beat RCB and then overcome Delhi Capitals in their final league fixture—an unlikely but still possible chain of results.
History, however, is firmly stacked against Ashleigh Gardner’s side. Gujarat Giants have lost all eight of their previous encounters against Mumbai Indians, underlining the magnitude of the challenge ahead. Yet, momentum may finally be shifting in their favour after a dramatic three-run victory over Delhi Capitals, inspired by a match-winning spell from Sophie Devine.
Mumbai Indians, meanwhile, enter the contest brimming with confidence after a commanding 15-run win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Despite a blistering 90 from Richa Ghosh, MI kept RCB under control throughout the chase.
The standout performance came from Nat Sciver-Brunt, who struck the first-ever century in WPL history and reignited her devastating partnership with Hayley Matthews. Matthews also delivered with the ball, picking up three key wickets in a tight spell. The overseas all-rounder duo has once again been central to MI’s late surge.
Net run rate remains MI’s biggest ally. In the event of a points tie, Harmanpreet’s side are well placed to sneak through courtesy of their superior NRR. However, a loss to the Giants would leave them dependent on other results, specifically Delhi Capitals losing to UP Warriorz and RCB beating UPW, to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Squads
Gujarat Giants:
Ashleigh Gardner (c), Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Beth Mooney (wk), Bharti Fulmali, Shivani Singh (wk), Kanika Ahuja, Sophie Devine, Kim Garth, Anushka Sharma, Ayushi Soni, Kashvee Gautam, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Jintimani Kalita, Tanuja Kanwar, Renuka Singh Thakur, Georgia Wareham
Mumbai Indians:
Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Poonam Khemnar, Hayley Matthews, Rahila Firdous (wk), Milly Illingworth, Amanjot Kaur, Amelia Kerr, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sajeevan Sajana, Nicola Carey, Sanskriti Gupta, Saika Ishaque, Shabnim Ismail, Kranthi Reddy, Vaishnavi Sharma, Triveni Vasistha
Match time: 7:30 PM IST
(By PTI Inputs)
