Agony and Ecstasy: All You Need to Know About Mumbai Indians’s Triumph Over Delhi Capitals in the WPL Finals

A below-par total, a championship at stake and an invincible opponent, such situations generally translate to one outcome, a Mumbai Indians Title haul. In yet another, low-scoring finale, the Mumbai-based franchise emerged victorious in typical fashion against arch-rivals Delhi Capitals to lift their second WPL Title in front of a packed and spirited Brabourne Stadium.

Fiery Powerplay Spell by Marizaane Kapp and Shikha Pandey puts DC in Front

Legendary Australian skipper and commander-in-charge of the Delhi Capitals, Meg Lanning, correctly called the toss and elected to bowl first in the high stakes game. Backing the skipper’s decision to have a ball first, Shikha Pandey and Marizaane Kapp seemed to be unplayable as they swinged and seamed the new ball both ways, with the Mumbai openers struggling to put bat on ball.

The first conclusive chance went a begging as Marizaane Kapp failed to grab onto Yastika Bhatia’s miscue. However, the cricketing gods were gorgeous in their offerings as Kapp struck in the very same over as she castled West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews with one that nipped back in sharply after setting her up with a couple of out-swingers. Soon after, Yastika Bhatia returned to the pavilion as Jemimah Rodrigues held on to a stunner that saw their diving low in front, doubling the delight for Marizaane Kapp.

Rescue Job by Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Orange Cap Holder Nat Sciver-Brunt

With both openers back in the pavilion with less than 15 runs on the board, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur joined tournament top-scorer Nat Sciver-Brunt. Mumbai Indians were trudging along at a snail’s pace with them only being able to score 28 runs in their first 8 overs.

However, the two stalwarts of the modern game infused a new energy in the game as they accounted for the following 5 overs going for 59 runs. The counter-attack was spearheaded and orchestrated by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur as she unleased a furry of marauding shots through the offside which included 3 consecutive boundaries off former No.1 bowler Jess Jonassen in the 11^th over.

Both batters, Kaur and Sciver-Brunt were infallible through the off-side with majority of the boundaries coming in the cover-point region through a frenzy of drives, cuts and inside-outs. And in the blink of an eye Harmanpreet raced to a 33-ball fifty after she started slow, scoring just 11 runs off her first 15 balls.

DC Comeback at the Back End

The 15^th over brought some respite to the bowling side as skipper Nallapureddy Charani got the better of Nat Sciver-Brunt, thus ending a crucial and momentum-shifting 89-run partnership, with the England all-rounder scoring a composed knock worth 30 runs.

Delhi Capitals then made the most of the breakthrough, scalping 3 wickets in the next 3 overs, conceding just 15 runs. With Harmanpreet Kaur dismissed after she led from the front with a flamboyant 44-ball 66, it seemed that Delhi had clawed their way back into the game. However, a few lusty blows towards the end of innings ensured that Mumbai Indias put up a competitive total of 149, as the last 2 overs accounted for 25 runs.

Delhi Capitals Lose Both Openers Inside Powerplay

Chasing a modest target of 150 runs, Delhi Capitals seemed to have luck on their side as skipper Meg Lanning edged the very first ball of the innings off Shabnim Ismail, only for it to reach the boundary ropes. However, the luck was short-lived as in the 2^nd over, Nat Sciver-Brunt produced a peach of a delivery to send back Meg Lanning as she was cramped for room by a vicious ball that seamed into her, rattling her stumps as Sciver-Brunt beamed with joy.

In the very next over, Shabnim Ismail trapped Delhi’s top-scorer Shafali Verma to ensure both openers returned to the pavilion. After a brief period of silence, Jemimah Rodrigues took Hayley Matthews on, striking her for 3 boundaries in the last over of the powerplay. And just as the momentum seemed to shift with a 15-run 6^th over, Amelia Kerr and Saika Ishaque pulled things back as the Capitals lost 2 wickets in 2 overs.

Jemimah’s Vigil ended by Purple Cap Amelia Kerr

However, despite this collapse with Jemimah still on the crease, Delhi Capitals had confidence in their chances as Jemimah looked in good touch as she was judging length quickly and getting into great positions. Then came the 11^th over, the first 2 balls were dispatched for 2 boundaries by Jemimah Rodrigues, however Amelia Kerr had the last laugh as she held onto a brilliant caught and bowled opportunity to send back the talented Indian batter with 30 to her name.

Soon after, keeper-batter Sarah Bryce had to return to the pavilion after a mix-up left her stranded in the middle, with Delhi Capitals reeling at 83 for 6.

Marizaane keeps Delhi Kapp-ital’s Hopes Alive

As almost all hopes for Delhi’s first WPL title seemed to fade away, Marizaane Kapp backed up her incredible bowling figures (2 for 11) with a pyrotechnic cameo that brought DC back into the game.

The South African all-rounder joined hands with India’s U-19 captain, Niki Prasad to forge a 40-run partnership, with Kapp at her belligerent best as she smashed Saika Ishaque for 17 runs in the 16^th over. As was the incredible intensity and unpredictable ebbs and flows of the match, Nat Sciver-Brunt rose to the occasion, as she got rid of the dangerous Marizaane Kapp in the 18^th over, tightening the screws with 23 runs required off the last 12 balls.

As the match moved into the last over, with Niki Prasad on strike, beaming with confidence as she struck a brilliant maximum in the penultimate over, tension and adrenaline were at an all-time high. With 14 required off 6 balls, it was still anybody’s game as fans of respective sides had started their prayers.

Mumbai Indians Maintain Finals Dominance

However, as she has so often in the past, Nat Sciver-Brunt delivered under tremendous pressure to bowl an incredible final over, to seal a 8-run victory for the Mumbai Indians, crowning them as champions of the Women’s Premier League 2025.

With yet another enthralling victory, Mumbai Indians extended and enhanced their unbelievable finals record, as they have now won a staggering 11 finals out of a total 12 as a franchise, with the first and last being the 2010 IPL Finals against Chennai Super Kings.

Awards Galore for Mumbai Indians

Furthermore, it was a pretty much a clean sweep at the awards ceremony by the triumphant Mumbai Indians as almost awards including the sparkling WPL Trophy came into the dressing room of the WPL’s most successful franchise. The Orange Cap was awarded to Nat-Sciver Brunt for a stellar 523-run campaign while Amanjot Kaur was adjusted the Emerging Player of the season. In case of the Purple Cap, Amelia Kerr added yet another accolade to their illustrious career as the 24-year old won the Player of the Tournament at the 2024 T20 World Cup apart from winning the ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year.

Triple the Torment for Delhi Capitals

While the Mumbai Indians camp was doused in pure jubilation and ecstasy, the heart went out to the defeated Delhi Capitals. The Meg Lanning side has finished on top of the Points Table in each edition, only to end up as runners-up on all 3 occasions, having lost twice to Mumbai Indians.

Even though they ousted the Mumbai Indians twice in this season, it was third time lucky for the Mumbai Indians as they came out trumps in the all-important Finale. And as far as this incredible rivalry goes, the head-to-head is now tied at 4 wins each, however agonisingly for the Capitals, 2 of Mumbai’s wins have come in the finals.