WPL 2025 Eliminator: Can Gujarat Giants avoid a 7th straight defeat against Mumbai Indians? | Football News

Whatever happens in the Women’s Premier League Eliminator on Thursday, Gujarat Giants can chalk down the 2025 season as an improvement. There cannot be arguments that, across the first two editions combined, they were the side that struggled the most in the tournament, finishing last on both occasions. But ahead of 2025, they made changes to the backroom staff, handed the captaincy over to Ashleigh Gardner from Beth Mooney, and added the star power to their lineup in the form of Deandra Dottin. In addition to all that, Kashvee Gautam – their big-money recruit before 2024 who ended up missing the season due to injury – has showcased her potential, especially with the ball in hand, emerging as one of the finds of the tournament for Indian cricket.
It hasn’t been a flawless season any means, but a place in the knockouts for the first time is one that Gardner and Co can relish. However, on Thursday at the Brabourne Stadium, they have to complete another first: beating Mumbai Indians. In the six meetings so far in WPL between MI and GG, Mumbai have emerged victorious every single time. And while they are at it, the Giants need a plan to stop Harmanpreet Kaur, who has been a thorn in their side.
In the New Delhi leg last year, the MI captain played arguably the knock of the WPL so far. With MI needing 91 off 36 balls in a run-chase of 191, Harmanpreet put her foot on the pedal, smashing the GG bowlers all around the Kotla for a sensational unbeaten 95 that helped her side cross the finish line. Harmanpreet’s record against GG speaks for itself as well, as she became the first batter in WPL to score 300 runs against one opponent, when she scored a half-century on Monday in Mumbai, when these two sides met last.

But, on that night, GG came close to getting over the line and it wasn’t their top batters who made it a contest. Batting at No 7, Bharti Fulmali smashed a 25-ball 61 that left MI sweating, when a big win – and potential top spot and a direct entry to the final – seemed imminent. As such, both teams have concerns to address at the top of their batting order ahead of the knockout clash. GG’s fielding has been a cause of concern too. But both teams have enough outright match-winners to make this a close contest in Mumbai.

Vinayakk Mohanarangan is Senior Assant Editor and is based in New Delhi. … Read More