The second match of the Women’s Premier League 2025 will feature Mumbai Indians Women (MIW) taking on Delhi Capitals Women (DCW) at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara on February 15th. Both teams are coming off solid performances in the previous season, and this match is expected to be a thrilling contest between two well-balanced sides.
Recent Form and Squad Overview
Mumbai Indians Women:
- Last Season Performance: MIW reached the Playoffs last season but were knocked out in the Eliminator against Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women. They have a strong core group of players and will look to make another deep run this year.
- Key Players:
- Hayley Matthews: A world-class batter, Matthews has been in great form recently and is expected to lead MIW’s charge with the bat.
- Shabnim Ismail: A lethal bowler, especially in the Powerplay overs. If she finds her rhythm early in the tournament, she could be a game-changer for MIW.
- Harmanpreet Kaur: The skipper remains one of the most influential all-rounders, contributing with both bat and ball.
- Nat Sciver-Brunt: A key all-rounder, both with the bat and the ball. She is expected to play a pivotal role in MIW’s middle-order.
Delhi Capitals Women:
- Last Season Performance: DCW made it to the final last season but were outclassed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women, finishing as runners-up. They will be eager to go one step further in WPL 2025.
- Key Players:
- Meg Lanning: DCW’s top run-scorer last season with 331 runs, Lanning is a T20 specialist and a crucial part of the batting order.
- Marizanne Kapp: With 11 wickets in the previous edition, Kapp is a force with the ball, particularly in Powerplay overs.
- Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma: Both are explosive openers and key players in the DCW batting lineup.
- Annabel Sutherland: An all-rounder with the ability to contribute in all phases of the game.
Key Matchup: Batting vs. Bowling
Both teams have a strong lineup of all-rounders and batting depth.
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Mumbai Indians Women will rely on their strong middle-order, which includes Harmanpreet Kaur, Amelia Kerr, and Nat Sciver-Brunt. Along with the experience of Hayley Matthews at the top, MIW’s batting looks formidable.
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Delhi Capitals Women, on the other hand, have Meg Lanning and Jemimah Rodrigues to anchor their innings. The explosive Shafali Verma adds firepower at the top. With all-rounders like Marizanne Kapp and Annabel Sutherland, they have plenty of options to navigate through the middle and death overs.
Both teams have well-rounded bowling attacks. Shabnim Ismail and Pooja Vastrakar lead MIW’s charge with the ball, while DCW boasts of Marizanne Kapp, Jess Jonassen, and Radha Yadav.
Tactics and Strategy
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MIW: With their strong batting depth, Mumbai might look to chase in this encounter, especially since the pitch conditions are expected to favor chasing teams. Their squad is built on versatility with plenty of all-rounders like Amelia Kerr and Hayley Matthews, which gives them flexibility in their lineup.
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DCW: Delhi will rely on their experienced players to set up a strong total. Lanning and Rodrigues will be key at the top, with Shafali Verma providing the aggressive spark. In the bowling department, Marizanne Kapp and Jess Jonassen will need to break through early to put pressure on MIW.
Pitch and Weather Conditions
Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara has hosted limited matches, but based on previous ODI and T20 performances, we can expect a pitch that favors batting. The high-scoring ODI matches here suggest that both teams will be looking to put up big totals.
- Batting Conditions: The pitch is expected to be favorable for batters, with high-scoring potential.
- Bowling Conditions: Pace bowlers will find some bounce, while spinners can expect average turn. The weather is expected to be sunny, with temperatures around 33°C at the start of the match, cooling down to 26°C by the evening.
MIW vs DCW: Winning Prediction
This match promises to be a nail-biter. Both teams are evenly matched, with strong batting and versatile bowling options. However, MIW might have a slight edge, particularly with their depth in the lower-middle order and the all-round abilities of players like Hayley Matthews and Nat Sciver-Brunt.
Prediction: Mumbai Indians Women to win.
Fantasy Cricket Tips
- Top Batters: Hayley Matthews (MIW), Meg Lanning (DCW), Jemimah Rodrigues (DCW).
- Top Bowlers: Shabnim Ismail (MIW), Marizanne Kapp (DCW), Jess Jonassen (DCW).
- All-rounders to Watch: Amelia Kerr (MIW), Annabel Sutherland (DCW), Nat Sciver-Brunt (MIW).
Predicted Playing XIs
Mumbai Indians Women:
- Hayley Matthews, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Pooja Vastrakar, S Sajana, Sanskriti Gupta, Shabnim Ismail, Saika Ishaque.
Delhi Capitals Women:
- Meg Lanning (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Sneha Deepthi, Alice Capsey, Annabel Sutherland, Jess Jonassen, Marizanne Kapp, Radha Yadav, Shikha Pandey, Taniyaa Bhatia.
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