Mumbai Indians were unbeaten in their first five matches of the inaugural Women’s Premier League last year. They finished the tournament as its first ever winner having lost just two matches out of 10. In WPL 2024, MI have played five matches so far and its loss counter already reads two. There is no need to press the panic button yet but with three league games left, the defending champions cannot put a foot wrong if they harbor hopes of a top-three finish and not leave their chances to fate.
Yastika Bhatia and Hayley Mathews, their two openers, have scored a fifty apiece but need to be more consistent, especially in the Powerplay. Their highest opening partnership thus far was worth 50 runs (against UP Warriorz) but they scored 36 of them during the first six overs. In their next game though, the duo blazed away to 45 in just 3.4 overs before being separated and that culminated in a dominating chase. In the remaining three innings, they have stitched 0, 19 and 7 runs together. Their captain Harmanpreet Kaur is back to full fitness having missed two games due to a niggle. This was after she contributed heavily in their first two wins. Others around her have to step up.
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UP Warriorz have problems of their own. They have been heavily let down by their fielding standards. They lost their last game to Royal Challengers Bangalore after giving Smriti Mandhana a life on 28 and then on 29. Mandhana went on to score 80 off 50 as RCB won by 23 runs. Across their five matches so far, they have been consistently dropping catches, a majority of them sitters. Clearly, fielding is an area that requires massive improvement.
UPW have won two of their five matches so far and one of those victories came against MI, their latest opponent. UPW stopped MI’s winning start to the season with an impressive seven-wicket win and they carried the momentum by brushing aside a struggling Gujarat Giants before coming up short against RCB. Will they complete a season double over MI?
What: UPW vs MI, WPL 2024, Match no 14
When: March 7 (Thursday)
Where: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Start Time: 7:30 PM IST
MI Team News
MI are back to full strength with both their captain Harmanpreet and the vastly experienced fast bowler Shabnim Ismail playing against the Delhi Capitals. It wasn’t a happy return for either but Shabnim did break the record for the fastest delivery recorded in women’s cricket. Their no.3 batter Nat Sciver-Brunt hasn’t been in the best of form and considering the inconsistency of their openers, MI would want her to return to form quickly.
MI Likely XI: Hayley Matthews, Yastika Bhatia, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur, Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Pooja Vastrakar, S Sajana, Shabnim Ismail, Humaira Kazi, Saika Ishaque
UPW Team News
UPW have signed wicketkeeper-batter Uma Chetry as an interim injury replacement for opener Vrinda Dinesh who hurt her shoulder while fielding against MI in Bengaluru. They have promoted Kiran Navgire to open with skipper Alyssa Healy. Navgire responded with a quick fifty against MI before registering two low scores. However, her ability to play big shots and especially considering the potential to maximize it in the Powerplay, it seems to be a blessing in disguise for the UPW provided Navgire is consistent. Curiously, Saima Thakor has played three matches this season and bowled in just one of them. Perhaps, UPW may include Soppadhandi Yashasri if Thakor doesn’t inspire much confidence.
UPW Likely XI: Alyssa Healy, Kiran Navgire, Chamari Athapaththu, Grace Harris, Shweta Sehrawat, Deepti Sharma, Poonam Khemnar, Sophie Ecclestone, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Saima Thakor/ Soppadhandi Yashasri, Anjali Sarvani
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