Mumbai Indians (MI) clinched their second Women’s Premier League (WPL) title in three seasons, defending 149/7 to hand Delhi Capitals (DC) their third consecutive runners-up finish.
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Sciver-Brunt and Harmanpreet Shine as MI Clinch Second WPL Title
Nat Sciver-Brunt, the first player to reach 1000 runs in WPL history, and Harmanpreet Kaur, who crossed 300 runs in a season for the first time, played pivotal roles in Mumbai Indians’ batting effort. The duo stitched an 89-run stand for the third wicket, rescuing MI from a shaky 14 for 2. Harmanpreet’s fluent 36-ball half-century helped them post a competitive total of 149/7.
Delhi Capitals faltered early in their chase but found hope through Marizanne Kapp’s explosive 40 off 26 balls. Her crucial 40-run partnership with Niki Prasad for the seventh wicket brought DC within striking distance, needing 14 off the final over. However, Sciver-Brunt once again stepped up, sealing MI’s victory by eight runs and leaving DC heartbroken as runners-up for the third straight season.
This marked the fifth consecutive game—and the fourth at Brabourne Stadium this season—where a team successfully defended a total. It was also just the fourth instance in WPL history of a sub-150 total being defended, with DC on the losing side in three of them.
Kapp’s Heroics in Vain as MI Triumph Again!
Nat Sciver-Brunt let out a fierce celebration after dismantling DC captain Meg Lanning’s stumps, setting the tone for Mumbai Indians’ dominance. Shabnim Ismail sent back DC’s leading run-scorer, Shafali Verma, while Amelia Kerr, Saika Ishaque, and the MI bowling unit kept chipping away. At 44/4 and later 66/5, DC seemed headed for another disappointing finish, and when Sarah Bryce was run out at 83/6 inside 13 overs, the writing appeared to be on the wall.
Enter Marizanne Kapp. Refusing to let her brilliant bowling figures of 2 for 11 go in vain, she ignited DC’s fightback with a stunning counterattack. Kapp launched a Sciver-Brunt half-tracker over deep midwicket, manipulated the field with wristy leg-side shots, and punished Hayley Matthews and Saika Ishaque in quick succession. A flurry of boundaries reduced the equation to 29 off 18 balls, with the Brabourne crowd roaring in support of every Kapp stroke.
But just as DC sensed a late heist, Sciver-Brunt struck the decisive blow. Kapp’s flat-batted shot found Matthews at long-off, silencing the stadium. The dream was over, and Lanning’s blank expression said it all—hope had been crushed once again.
Kapp and Pandey Set the Tone with Fiery New-Ball Spell
Opting to bowl first on a fresh surface, Delhi Capitals capitalized on the swing-friendly conditions under the Mumbai evening sky. Marizanne Kapp and Shikha Pandey made life difficult for Mumbai Indians’ openers with a probing new-ball spell.
Hayley Matthews struggled to get going, failing to score off five of the seven deliveries she faced from Kapp. After setting her up with outswingers, Kapp got one to straighten and crash into the stumps, dismissing Matthews for the 11th time in women’s T20s.
At the other end, Pandey kept Yastika Bhatia under pressure. Unable to break free, Bhatia attempted a drive off Kapp, only to find Jemimah Rodrigues at cover, who took a sharp low catch. MI were left reeling at 20/2 at the end of the powerplay— their second-lowest powerplay total in WPL history.
Harmanpreet’s Classy Fifty Lifts MI from Early Trouble
Much like the previous two WPL finals, the batting side seemed destined for a subpar total early on. Delhi Capitals dominated with the ball, with Marizanne Kapp bowling out her quota in a single spell to keep MI in check. However, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Harmanpreet Kaur had other plans, shifting gears to wrestle back momentum. After a sluggish start—scoring just 28 runs in the first eight overs—MI exploded with 59 runs in the next five, each over yielding more than ten runs.
Harmanpreet was the catalyst. While Sciver-Brunt played the supporting role, the MI skipper dazzled with her strokeplay. A powerful pull off Annabel Sutherland that sailed over deep backward square leg set the tone. She then took on Jess Jonassen, who had troubled her in T20Is, smashing three consecutive fours in the 11th over. One of the standout shots of the evening came against Minnu Mani—a stunning backfoot whip through square leg, all wristwork and elegance.
Bringing up her third half-century of the season, Harmanpreet steered MI out of trouble, ensuring they racked up 70 runs in the seven overs between the first and second timeout.
DC’s Late Strikes Fall Short as MI Post Competitive Total
With minimal dew expected in Mumbai, Delhi Capitals opted for an extra spin option, bringing in N Shree Charani over Radha Yadav in place of Titas Sadhu. The move underscored DC’s faith in Charani, and she justified it in her second over. After conceding 12 in her first, she broke the threatening 89-run third-wicket stand between Nat Sciver-Brunt and Harmanpreet Kaur before tightening the screws with a six-run over.
Annabel Sutherland then struck a crucial blow, dismissing Harmanpreet as MI slipped from a strong 102/2 to a precarious 118/6. Despite DC’s late surge—picking up 5 for 45 in the final five overs—MI still managed to add 25 off the last two, dragging their total close to 150. On another day, DC’s death-bowling efforts might have been enough, but this time, they fell just short.
Read More: IPL 2025: Axar Patel Takes Charge As New Delhi Capitals Captain
FAQs
How did Mumbai Indians win their second WPL title?
Mumbai Indians defended 149/7 against Delhi Capitals, securing their second WPL title in three seasons with an eight-run victory.
Who were the key performers for MI in the WPL 2025 final?
Nat Sciver-Brunt and Harmanpreet Kaur starred with the bat, adding 89 runs for the third wicket. Sciver-Brunt also delivered a crucial final over, sealing the win.
How did Delhi Capitals fall short in the chase?
DC lost early wickets and were struggling at 66/5. Despite a late blitz from Marizanne Kapp (40 off 26), they fell short by eight runs.
What was Harmanpreet Kaur’s impact in the final?
Harmanpreet scored a brilliant 50 off 36 balls, anchoring MI’s innings and helping them recover from 14/2 to a respectable total.
How did DC’s bowling unit perform in the final?
Marizanne Kapp (2/11) and Annabel Sutherland (key wicket of Harmanpreet) led a strong bowling effort, restricting MI to 149/7. However, their batters couldn’t chase the target.
