Follow UsAnd then there were three!
The 2025 season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) began with the second-biggest chase in the history of women’s T20 cricket, and ever since then, it has been a season full of close games.
Gujarat Giants, the perennial last position holders on the points table, were jacked up with a really powerful batting order and challenged all the teams with Ashleigh Gardner leading from the front with her allround performances. Youngsters like Kashvee Gautam and domestic talents like Bharti Fulmali have risen to the occasion like pros.
While GG have been the big surprise, the Delhi Capitals have been clinical as usual, with their openers and elite pace bowling carrying the team through to the top of the table and straight into the final for the third time in a row. Meanwhile, the Mumbai Indians had their allrounders help them through the top three like clockwork.
With the knockouts approaching at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, let’s look at what can help these three teams lift the WPL trophy.
Also Read - Venue Analysis: MI To Start As Favourites? Spin To Win At Brabourne Stadium
Mumbai Indians
WPL history: Winners in the inaugural edition of the league, reached the Eliminator last time as well.
Result in WPL 2025: Won five, lost three games. The only big defeat came against DC, when the Delhi pacers decimated Mumbai’s batting.
What can win them their second WPL
> Nat Sciver-Brunt has been in stellar form with the bat, and has scored 416 runs in the eight games so far at an average of 69.33 and a strike rate of 151.8. She has also picked eight wickets, proving once again why she’s one of the most premium allrounders in women’s cricket.
> If you think Hayley Matthews is a batting allrounder, think again. She is currently the purple cap holder with 14 wickets at an average of just 17.1 and an economy of 8, which is very good in a high-scoring season.
> Amelia Kerr might not have been that great with the bat, but she also has 14 scalps in eight games at a better average and strike rate than Matthews. Her leg spin would be really crucial on the Brabourne track.
> Amanjot Kaur has been really clutch, coming in at nervy moments and contributing with the bat, ball and in the field. She has already won one thriller on her own by smacking RCB bowlers, and her bowling has been really good in the latter half of the season.
What can lose them the trophy
> The opening combination. Kerr hasn’t exactly worked out as a partner for Matthews since Yastika Bhatia failed to, and Matthews herself hasn’t been in her best rhythm.
> Shabnim Ismail hasn’t been at her lethal best, and has failed to give early wickets to her side on a regular basis. An economy of 6.9 is really good, but her side needs wickets.
> What if Matthews and Kerr don’t pick wickets? That would be Harmanpreet and MI’s biggest concern.
> The Indian players, apart from Amanjot, didn't have many opportunities to shine, and when they did, they failed to live up to expectations. Overreliance on their overseas allrounders can come back to bite them.
Delhi Capitals
WPL history: Direct finalists in all the three editions of the league after topping the table, DC would love to be third time lucky this season.
WPL 2025 Result: DC have won five games out of eight, but it was only in the later half of the season that they have shown their characteristic domination.
What can win them their first WPL Trophy
> Yet again, the opening combination of Shafali Verma and Meg Lanning has been leading the DC charge with some stellar contributions. Shafali is averaging 42.85 this season with a strike rate of 157.9, meanwhile Lanning averages 37.57 and strikes at 117.9.
> Jess Jonassen’s rise with the bat has been remarkable for DC, coming and smashing the ball at will. She’s averaging 45.66 in five innings at a strike rate of 155.7. Her effectiveness with the ball is a bonus, as she has picked 11 wickets at an average of 19.
> The DC pace battery has been stellar, with Shikha Pandey picking 11 wickets at 19 and Annabel Sutherland and Marizanne Kapp supporting her with their superb pace bowling.
What can lose them the trophy
> Their middle order hasn’t performed well at all with the bat. Jemimah Rodrigues and Sutherland are scoring at an average of 19.3 and 18.6 respectively. Meanwhile, Kapp hasn’t lit up the tournament with the bat, either.
> Spinners have ruled at the Brabourne, with almost 70% of wickets falling to them in the WPL. However, DC only have Jonassen, inconsistent Minnu Mani and the young Charani to help them when going spin-heavy might be crucial.
> There is an eight-day gap between DC’s last match and the final. That might affect their momentum.
Gujarat Giants
WPL history: They finished last on the points table in both the earlier seasons
WPL 2025: GG have won four and lost four this season, which was enough to end at third on the table
What can win them their first trophy
> Ashleigh Gardner has been a beast this season, scoring at an average of 33.56 and striking at 163.2. If Deandra Dottin also gets going along with her, it’s game over for the opposition.
> Beth Mooney is back in form, and is striking at 128.3 with a best of 96* this season
> Both Harleen Deol and Bharti Fulmali have been major contributors with the bat and have solidifed the Indian batting core. Fulmali has played the finisher’s role really well.
> Kashvee Gautam has been superb with the ball, picking 10 wickets at an average of 17 and an economy of just 6.3.
What can lose them the trophy
> Phoebe Litchfield has had an innocuous season so far, with only 60 runs in five innings.
> GG’s batting is prone to collapsing if Mooney, Gardner or Dottin don’t play their role well. Two good spells from the opposition and they will find themselves in trouble.
> Priya Mishra hasn’t been amongst the wickets. The leg-spinner has only taken six this season at an economy of 8.6. The lack of second Indian pacer after Kashvee can hurt them as well.
