Mumbai Indians Women (MUM-W) are set to clash with Gujarat Giants Women (GJ-W) in the Eliminator of the Women’s Premier League 2025 at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium on Thursday, March 13. Interestingly, the two teams met twice during the league stage, with Mumbai emerging victorious in both encounters.
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Mumbai Indians Women vs Gujarat Giants Women: Preview
Despite both Gujarat Giants and Mumbai Indians entering the eliminator after defeats in their final league games, Mumbai appear more bruised. They suffered their first home loss at Brabourne Stadium in the WPL on Tuesday, dropped four catches, conceded excessive runs in the field, and are enduring a relentless schedule. Thursday’s eliminator will mark their third game in four days, and if they reach the final, they will have played four matches in just six days.
Mumbai Indians haven’t experimented as much but did split their most successful opening duo by pushing Yastika Bhatia down the order after her lean run. The decision to open with Amelia Kerr hasn’t paid off in the last two games either. Their batting remains heavily dependent on Orange Cap holder Nat Sciver-Brunt (416) and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (200), despite the significant gap between their run tallies.
Where Mumbai could hold an edge is in the bowling department, especially at Brabourne, where spinners have been dominant—claiming 17 wickets in two games compared to just 8 by pacers. Hayley Matthews and Amelia Kerr, both leading the charts with 14 wickets each, have stepped up in the absence of Pooja Vastrakar.
Gujarat Giants, however, face no such concerns. Their narrow nine-run loss to Mumbai on Monday, aided by Bharti Fulmali’s explosive finish, highlighted the growing contributions of their Indian players, easing the burden on overseas stars. A three-match winning streak before arriving in Mumbai would have further boosted their confidence.
Gujarat Giants have struggled to settle on a stable opening combination, with pace-bowling all-rounder Kashvee Gautam being the latest to step into the role, only to add to the revolving door at the top. Beth Mooney has had four different partners in eight games, and in every instance, the first wicket has fallen inside the PowerPlay. Despite Mooney’s inconsistent form (231 runs), she has been a key contributor alongside skipper Ashleigh Gardner (235) and Harleen Deol (224). Deol’s match-winning 70* against Delhi Capitals didn’t earn her a promotion despite Gujarat’s frequent top-order reshuffling, but in a high-stakes knockout game, they may opt for a more conventional approach.
For Gujarat, the responsibility in the bowling attack falls on Kashvee Gautam (10 wickets), supported by the experienced Deandra Dottin (9) and skipper Gardner (8).
The only drawback? They have never beaten Mumbai. Across three WPL seasons, Mumbai hold a flawless 6-0 record against the Giants. However, their most recent encounter suggests the upcoming contest may not be as one-sided as history implies. A key reason for Gujarat’s surge up the points table has been their strong middle order, anchored by captain Ashleigh Gardner and Deandra Dottin, despite struggles in finding an ideal opening partner for Beth Mooney. While they have been the slowest starters in the powerplay (run rate 5.97), they excel in the middle overs (8.81, the best in the tournament) and finish strongly at the death (scoring 10 per over), second only to Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Based on this season’s WPL trends, a key factor in deciding the match could be Gujarat Giants’ performance in the middle overs. This is when they typically accelerate, but they will be up against Mumbai’s formidable bowling attack—the best in that phase. Amelia Kerr, Mumbai’s standout bowler in the middle overs, may have been expensive on Tuesday, but with better fielding support, her figures could have looked very different. Her ability to thrive under pressure, as showcased in last year’s T20 World Cup, might once again come into play on Thursday.
At the toss, both captains can take some comfort in knowing that the coin flip may not be too crucial. While teams have preferred to chase, the trend shifted toward the end of the league stage, with the last three games being won by teams batting first. Before that, only two out of 17 matches had gone in favor of teams setting a target.
Mumbai will be aiming for their second final in three years after falling short against RCB in last season’s eliminator. Meanwhile, the challenge for Gujarat Giants is to ensure this year’s title clash doesn’t turn into a repeat of the 2023 showdown.
This is the ultimate David vs. Goliath showdown. History, stats, and momentum all tilt in favor of Mumbai Indians as they face Gujarat Giants in the WPL 2025 Eliminator on Thursday at Brabourne Stadium.
One of the most dominant teams in the tournament, both on paper and on the field, Mumbai have reached the knockouts in all three editions so far, finishing second in the points table behind Delhi Capitals each time. While they lifted the trophy in the inaugural season, their campaign was cut short last year by a resurgent Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Now, they face another team peaking at the right moment—Gujarat Giants, who are making their first-ever knockout appearance.
Interestingly, all three teams in the playoffs secured qualification with a game to spare, only to lose their final round-robin matches. For Gujarat, that defeat came against Mumbai just two nights ago at the same venue. Now, they have a chance to turn the tables in this rematch and book their first-ever spot in the final, where Delhi Capitals await—the very team they convincingly defeated in their last league fixture.
Historically, matches between these two sides have ranged from one-sided affairs—like the opening game of the WPL at DY Patil—to dramatic encounters, such as Harmanpreet Kaur’s miraculous chase in Delhi last year, where Mumbai pulled off 72 runs in the final five overs. With MI winning all six previous meetings, Gujarat will take the field on Thursday knowing there’s no better time to rewrite that narrative.
Mumbai Indians Women vs Gujarat Giants Women: Head-to-head
- Matches Played: 06
- Won by Mumbai Indians Women: 05
- Won by Gujarat Giants Women: 01
- Tied: 00
- No Result: 00
- First-ever Fixture: March 05, 2023
- Most-recent Fixture: March 10, 2025
Mumbai Indians Women vs Gujarat Giants Women: Pitch Report
If the two back-to-back league games and the partial use of these pitches in the first season are any indication, the knockouts should be high-scoring contests. While the sample size at CCI this year is small, captains have stuck to the trend of chasing but failed in both attempts. Brabourne Stadium’s consistent bounce and pace make it a batting-friendly venue, often producing big totals. While the surface initially favors batters, it can offer assistance to bowlers as the game progresses. The toss-winning team is likely to prefer batting first.
Mumbai Indians Women vs Gujarat Giants Women: Form Guide
Mumbai Indians LWWLW (last five matches, most recent first)
Gujarat Giants LWWWL
Mumbai Indians Women vs Gujarat Giants Women: Team News and Predicted XI
Mumbai Indians Women – Team News
Mumbai will be wary of their unsettled opening combination, as the decision to push Kerr to the top has failed in three attempts. Despite their defeat to RCB the previous night, they are expected to retain the same lineup for the knockout clash.
Mumbai Indians Women – Predicted XI
- Hayley Matthews
- Amelia Kerr
- Nat Sciver-Brunt
- Harmanpreet Kaur
- Amanjot Kaur
- Yastika Bhatia (wk)
- G Kamalini
- S Sajana
- Sanskriti Gupta
- Shabnim Ismail
- Parunika Sisodia
Gujarat Giants Women – Team News
Gujarat stuck with the same XI in their final league game but remain unsettled at the top of the order. If they haven’t found a reliable partner for Mooney yet, their opening woes persist. However, they have finally assembled a well-balanced XI that covers all areas. Unless injuries force a change, GG are likely to field an unchanged lineup.
Gujarat Giants Women – Predicted XI
- Beth Mooney (wk)
- Kashvee Gautam
- Harleen Deol
- Ashleigh Gardner (capt)
- Phoebe Lichfield
- Deandra Dottin
- Bharti Fulmali
- Simran Shaikh
- Tanuja Kanwar
- Meghna Singh
- Priya Mishra
Mumbai Indians Women vs Gujarat Giants Women: Players To Watch Out For
Harmanpreet Kaur (Mumbai Indians Women)
Harmanpreet Kaur thrives against the Giants, boasting an impressive average of nearly 79 and a strike rate of 171, with four half-centuries to her name. Her total of 315 runs is the highest any batter has scored against them.
Though she hasn’t been at her most consistent this season, with limited batting depth following her, another big knock against the Giants could boost her confidence ahead of a potential final.
Beth Mooney (Gujarat Giants Women)
Beth Mooney has shouldered much of the responsibility at the top for the Giants this season. While Harleen Deol has recently found form at No. 3, Mooney has been the key in providing steady, albeit cautious, starts. RCB’s openers demonstrated on Tuesday that Mumbai’s top bowlers can be attacked early, and Mooney might look to replicate Smriti Mandhana’s approach.
With two half-centuries to her name this season—far from her best—she’ll be eager to deliver a big knock against their toughest opponents in the eliminator.
Mumbai Indians Women vs Gujarat Giants Women: Prediction
Scenario 1
- Toss: Mumbai Indians Women win the toss and bowl
- Powerplay Score: 40-50
- Mumbai Indians Women Total: 170-180
- Match Result: Mumbai Indians Women win the match
Scenario 2
- Toss: Gujarat Giants Women win the toss and bowl
- Powerplay Score: 50-60
- Gujarat Giants Women Total: 160-170
- Match Result: Gujarat Giants Women win the match
When and Where To Watch Mumbai Indians Women vs Gujarat Giants Bengaluru Women LIVE? Broadcast and Streaming Details
The Women’s Premier League 2025 clash between Mumbai Indians Women and Gujarat Giants Women is set to begin at 7:30 PM IST on Thursday, March 13, at Brabourne stadium in Mumbai. The match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports network and will also be available for live streaming on JioHotstar for FREE.
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FAQs
What is Mumbai Indians’ head-to-head record against Gujarat Giants in the WPL?
Mumbai Indians have dominated Gujarat Giants, winning five of their six encounters across three WPL seasons.
How has Mumbai Indians’ opening combination performed this season?
Mumbai experimented by promoting Amelia Kerr to the top, but the move hasn’t worked in three attempts. Despite their recent loss to RCB, they are likely to stick with the same lineup for the eliminator.
Why is Beth Mooney crucial for Gujarat Giants in the eliminator?
Beth Mooney has been the backbone of Gujarat’s top order, providing stability despite frequent changes in opening partners. With two half-centuries this season, she will be key to countering Mumbai’s bowling attack.
What impact does the Brabourne Stadium pitch have on WPL knockout matches?
Brabourne Stadium offers true bounce and pace, making it ideal for high-scoring games. Teams have preferred to chase here, but recent matches suggest batting first might be a better strategy.
Why is Harmanpreet Kaur a key player against Gujarat Giants?
Harmanpreet Kaur has an outstanding record against Gujarat, averaging 79 with a strike rate of 171. Her four half-centuries and 315 runs against them make her a crucial player in the eliminator.
