WPL 2024/25, MI-W vs RCB-W 7th Match Match Report, February 21, 2025

Match Preview for the 20th Game of WPL 2024/25: MI-W vs RCB-W

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In the upcoming clash on March 11, 2025, at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai Indians (MI) aim to solidify their position at the top of the table against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). MI recently secured victory over Gujarat Giants, maintaining their perfect home record, while RCB, the defending champions, seek to end a five-game losing streak. Harmanpreet Kaur’s recent form boosts MI, having scored a crucial fifty in their last match. RCB, struggling with a weakened bowling attack, missed their playoff chance and now hope to disrupt MI’s plans. Both teams prepare with potential changes to their lineups.

Mumbai Indians (MI) vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, March 11, 2025

Big picture: RCB aim to finish on a high note

Mumbai Indians almost clinched a direct place in the final on Monday. They needed to restrict Gujarat Giants to 156 or less, but a determined innings from Bharti Fulmali prevented that from happening. Although they missed this opportunity, they won’t be too concerned: they not only triumphed over Gujarat Giants and maintained their flawless record at Brabourne Stadium but also have another opportunity to claim the top position in the table. They are level on points with the current leaders, Delhi Capitals. The only minor worry, if there is one, is that they must regroup within 24 hours to accomplish this.

While the decision to have Amelia Kerr open hasn’t made a significant impact, with the allrounder scoring poorly in both matches, MI will be pleased that Nat Sciver-Brunt did not have to carry the team alone again. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur contributed a fifty, supported by significant middle-order performances. Their bowlers performed strongly at the start, and despite faltering in the latter half of the chase, they managed to defend a total of 179 on a pitch conducive to batting.

On the other hand, RCB will lament what might have been. The defending champions were unfortunate with the toss in all four of their games at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, which forced them into the challenging role of batting first on a ground where seven out of eight matches were won by the chasing side. They had a slim chance of reaching the playoffs, which slipped away in a high-scoring thriller against UP Warriorz, and now enter this match after suffering five consecutive defeats.

RCB also faced similar challenges throughout the season, struggling with a depleted bowling attack and relying heavily on a few key players. In their previous outing, it was the out-of-contention Warriorz who took RCB down with them. Now, RCB will look to disrupt MI’s ambitions of finishing at the top.

Mumbai Indians WWLWW (last five matches, most recent first)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru LLLLL

MI are unlikely to alter their successful lineup.

Mumbai Indians (predicted): 1 Hayley Matthews, 2 Amelia Kerr, 3 Nat Sciver-Brunt, 4 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 5 Amanjot Kaur, 6 Yastika Bhatia (wk), 7 G Kamalini, 8 S Sajana, 9 Sanskriti Gupta, 10 Shabnim Ismail, 11 Parunika Sisodia

RCB made two adjustments for their previous match, introducing S Meghana and Charlie Dean in place of Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Ekta Bisht. Although Dean had a challenging match, conceding 47 runs in her four overs of offspin, Meghana made a quick start.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (expected): 1 Smriti Mandhana (capt), 2 S Meghana, 3 Ellyse Perry, 4 Raghvi Bisht, 5 Richa Ghosh (wk), 6 Kanika Ahuja, 7 Georgia Wareham, 8 Sneh Rana, 9 Charlie Dean, 10 Kim Garth, 11 Renuka Singh

Players to watch: Harmanpreet Kaur and Sneh Rana

Harmanpreet Kaur’s return to form is promising for MI. Entering the match against Giants with scores of 4, 22, and 4*, she made a vital contribution of 54 to help her team reach 179. With three fifties in four innings at the Brabourne Stadium in WPL, she will aim to leverage the home advantage to secure a second title for her team.
Performances like her display against UP Warriorz raise questions as to why Sneh Rana isn’t part of the T20 setup for India; her last T20I appearance was in 2023. Against UPW, Rana scored 25 off just five balls against Deepti Sharma, giving RCB a glimmer of hope in chasing down 226. In her WPL debut for RCB, Rana took 3 for 27, but she has been underutilized this season, having bowled her full quota only once in four games.

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