The Women’s Premier League (WPL) is all set for a homecoming as the caravan moves back to the venue where it started three years ago. The Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai hosted the very first fixture of the WPL and is set to host the final leg of the third edition.
Home side Mumbai Indians will be in focus as it takes on a resurgent Gujarat Giants, with both outfits having booked their spots – alongside Delhi Capitals – in the playoffs.
With two games in hand, Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. will look to win both and top the table, ahead of Delhi Capitals, thereby sealing a direct spot in the summit clash on March 15. Its first obstacle in that pursuit is Ashleigh Gardner’s stubborn Giants who have orchestrated a remarkable turnaround in fortune to enter the playoffs for the first time in league history.
Riding on all-round performances from the likes of Gardner herself, Deandra Dottin and young Indian talent Kashvee Gautam, the Giants have lifted themselves from the dread of another bottom place finish to second place in the standings.
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The Giants too can dream of a direct final but they will need a convincing win against MI and a favour from Royal Challengers Bengaluru when they face MI a day later, to pull that off.
Beth Mooney has looked imperious with the bat, being one of three Aussies to go close to scoring the league’s first century (others being Ellyse Perry and Georgia Voll). Harleen Deol finding runs also bodes well for the Giants, but on the faster tracks in Mumbai, she needs to find a way to break free from her slow starts faster.
The Giants could try out Phoebe Litchfield – who has some fond memories of punishing Indian bowlers albeit at the Wankhede – higher up in the order.
Mumbai experimented with its batting rundown as well, sending Amelia Kerr to open so a left-hander in Yastika Bhatia was available to bolster the middle order. While its batting depth has been a major ace in the deck, Mumbai should guard against relying solely on Nat Sciver-Brunt to make partnerships happen, particularly in the middle overs.
The Brabourne Stadium loves its chases, with teams batting second winning seven games off the 11 WPL fixtures held here. The flat tracks at this venue and dew that sets in later in the evening will have the big-hitters on both sides of the aisle excited.
UP Warriorz scored the league’s highest total when it managed 225 for five against RCB on Saturday. Resetting that record could be the perfect way to herald the league’s business end.