The third edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) concluded on March 15, 2025, leaving cricket fans in awe of the incredible talent on display. From breathtaking batting displays to game-changing bowling spells, this season showcased some of the finest performances in women’s cricket. As Mumbai Indians clinched their second title in a thrilling final against Delhi Capitals, several players emerged as the heartbeat of WPL 2025.

1. Nat Sciver-Brunt (Mumbai Indians)

Sciver-Brunt's standout performance during the WPL 2025 season single handedly led to the Mumbai Indians capturing the team’s second WPL Title. Her all around performances were at an all-time best, earning her the Orange Cap and Player of the Series after scoring an astounding 523 runs in 10 matches with an average of 65.37 and strike rate of 152.27.

 2. Amelia Kerr (Mumbai Indians) 

Kerr was outstanding with the ball as well and was sharer of the purple cap with the most wickets in the tournament at 18. In her best performance of the tournament against the UP Warriorz, Kerr bowled a true match winning spell where she claimed 5 wickets for 38 runs.

Also Read: "I Want to Win IPL 2025 for Him" – Jitesh Sharma Shares His Dream of Playing for RCB

3. Ellyse Perry (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Perry proved her batting skills yet again by scoring 372 runs in eight matches with an average of 93.00. Although Royal Challengers Bangalore ended up facing quite a few hurdles during the tournament, Perry's promise was one of those beautiful highlights.

4. Hayley Matthews (Mumbai Indians)

Hayley Matthews was a dual threat for Mumbai Indians, contributing significantly with both bat and ball. She scored 307 runs and was joint top wicket-taker with 18 wickets, playing a crucial role in Mumbai's successful campaign. 

5. Harmanpreet Kaur (Mumbai Indians)

Mumbai Indians' captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, led from the front with 302 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 154.87. Her captain's knock of 66 off 44 balls in the final against Delhi Capitals was instrumental in securing the title for her team. 

These players not only delivered individual brilliance but also elevated the overall competition, making WPL 2025 a memorable tournament.

On March 15, in the final of the 2025 Women's Premier League (WPL), Mumbai Indians (MI) won their second WPL title as they beat Delhi Capitals (DC) by eight runs. The match of the team vs DC at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai was a cliff-hanger affair with brilliant individual performances and spine-tingling moments.

Mumbai Indians' Innings

MI won the toss and decided to bowl. It turned out to be a wise decision, as they managed to pull together a gutsy 149/7 from 20 overs. The high point of their innings was skipper Harmanpreet Kaur's composed innings of 66 off 44 balls. She played in a sensible way, playing boundaries at the right time and piloting her team through tough spots.

Nat Sciver-Brunt added a useful 30 runs. MI, though, lost wickets at regular intervals and the DC's best bowler was Marizanne Kapp with two wickets on 25 runs. But still, MI reached a tough total due to crucial partnerships in middle and late overs of the inning.

Delhi Capitals' Chase

In the 150-run chase, the DC openers played fairly well until pressure started mounting on them by MI's tight spell of bowling. The only one who played well in the initial part with bat as well as at DC's run chase's command was Kapp. The lady played a gritty 40 off 26. She fought hard for her side with timely boundaries, one of which came in the shape of a six.

At the other end, however, MI's bowlers-Sciver-Brunt and Amelia Kerr-especially tried to play big shots. Sciver-Brunt was top class, taking 3 wickets for 30 runs and providing that much-needed breakthrough against DC's Shafali Verma, who was one of the more aggressive batsmen. Amelia Kerr's tight bowling and Jemimah Rodrigues's dismissal, who started aggressively but got out for 12, tilted the match in MI's favor.

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Highlights:

• Harmanpreet Kaur’s 66-run knock was the backbone of MI’s total.
• Sciver-Brunt’s brilliant 3-wicket haul helped halt DC’s chase.
• Amelia Kerr’s crucial wicket of Jemimah Rodrigues turned the game in MI’s favor.
• Kapp’s late surge, including a six and a few boundaries, gave DC some hope, but they ultimately fell short.

WPL Winner List:

It was another last-over thriller at RCB’s home ground, Mumbai Indians won their second win of the season. Meanwhile, the defending champions saw their five-match winning streak end.

RCB vs MI Highlights: Perry Shines, But Harmanpreet & Co. Clinch Thrilling Win

After choosing to bat first, Smriti Mandhana gave RCB a good start. The skipper came out with an attacking mindset, making the most runs in the powerplay. She smashed four boundaries and a six, but her quickfire knock of 26 off 13 balls ended when she mistimed a shot and got out earlier. Mumbai Indians got the breakthrough they needed and kept RCB quiet for the rest of the powerplay. MI picked up three more wickets, leaving RCB struggling at 74/4.

Packing a Punch 👊

Ellyse Perry celebrates her FIFTY in style 😎

She's currently batting on her highest individual score in #TATAWPL 👏

Updates ▶ https://t.co/WIQXj6JCt2 #RCBvMI | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/LdJvZDcHPC

— Women's Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 21, 2025

With four wickets down, RCB was in deep trouble. That’s when Ellyse Perry stepped in to steady innings, teaming up with Richa Ghosh to rebuild the innings in the tough times. The duo put together a much-needed 50-run partnership before Amanjot Kaur bowled out Richa just as she was starting to settle in. But Perry wasn’t done yet. She reached her fifty in just 30 balls and then shifted to attacking mode, taking on Mumbai’s bowlers in the final overs. It was yet another brilliant knock from the experienced all-rounder as she backed the RCB into the game with a stunning 81 off 43 balls.

🚨 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁#RCB get the huge wicket of Nat Sciver-Brunt, courtesy of Kim Garth ⚡️⚡️

Updates ▶ https://t.co/WIQXj6JCt2 #TATAWPL | #RCBvMI | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/vS2uezclsA

— Women's Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 21, 2025

Mumbai had a decent day with the ball, with Amanjot Kaur being the standout performer, picking up three wickets. However, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Hayley Matthews were a bit expensive as RCB managed 167 in their 20 overs.  Mumbai Indians came out all guns blazing in the chase, racking up 66 runs in the first six overs. Even though Yastika Bhatia fell early, they kept going strong, making it their highest powerplay score in WPL history. Nat Sciver-Brunt was the star of the show, smashing a quickfire 41 off just 18 balls and putting Mumbai in the driver’s seat.

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A superb chase as Mumbai Indians secure their 2️⃣nd win in a row! 🙌 🙌

The Harmanpreet Kaur-led unit bag 2️⃣ points as they beat #RCB by 4 wickets! 👏 👏

Scorecard ▶ https://t.co/WIQXj6JCt2 #TATAWPL | #RCBvMI | @mipaltan pic.twitter.com/NfA75uQzK3

— Women's Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 21, 2025

With the pressure building, Mumbai desperately needed a strong partnership. Harmanpreet Kaur stepped up, scoring a crucial half-century. She found great support in Amanjot Kaur, and together they put on a 62-run run for the fifth wicket, bringing Mumbai back in control.

MI was heading for an easy win, Wareham took two wickets in two balls, including Harmanpreet’s, giving RCB a real chance to fight back. But with 22 runs needed off the last 12 balls, Amanjot held her nerve and smashed two big sixes, making the chase much easier. In the end, Kamalini G hit a crisp shot through covers for a boundary to seal the win for Mumbai with four wickets against RCB.

The Women's Premier League (WPL) resumes with a thrilling contest between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Mumbai Indians (MI) today. Enthusiasts are expecting these two powerful teams to face each other at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Match Details:

• Match: RCBW VS MIW 
• Date: February 19th, 2025
• Time:  7:30 PM IST
• Venue:  Bengaluru

LIVE STREAMING DETAILS:

WPL 2025 Live Streaming Online

IN ALL COUNTRIES

MIW Playing XI

Yastika Bhatia, Hayley Mathews, Nat Sciver Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur, Amelia Kerr, Sajeevan Sajana, Amanjot Kaur, Sanskriti Gupta, Jintimani Kalita, Shabnim Ismail, Saika Ishaque

ALSO READ:WPL 2025: 7th Match, RCBW vs MIW, Match Prediction - Who Will Win Today?

RCBW Playing XI

Smriti Mandhana, Danni Wyatt Hodge, Sabbhineni Meghana, Richa Ghosh, Charlie Dean, Kanika Ahuja, Asha Shobana, Shreyanka Patil, Renuka Singh, Ekta Bisht, Kim Garth 

The Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025 is a thrilling cricket competition with the best women's teams. One of the most highly anticipated matches is between Mumbai Indians Women (MI-W) and Delhi Capitals Women (DC-W). Below are the complete details regarding the match, including time, stadium, and live streaming.

LIVE STREAMING:

• Teams: Mumbai Indians Women (MI-W) vs. Delhi Capitals Women (DC-W)
• Date: February 15, 2025
• Time: 7:30 PM IST
• Venue: Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara

The Vadodara Kotambi Stadium has a well-balanced pitch. The batters will be able to score runs easily, but the fast bowlers will also get assistance in the initial overs. It should be a high-scoring game.

IN ALL COUNTRIES

WPL 2025 Live Streaming Online

ALSO READ:WPL: 2nd Match, DC vs MI, Match Prediction - Who Will Win Today?

GG vs RCB Key Players:Beth Moony,Renuka Singh

Match Prediction
Both MI-W and DC-W possess good teams. Mumbai Indians Women possess strong hitters, whereas Delhi Capitals Women possess a balanced team. It will be a tough contest, and people can anticipate a close match.

India Women won the home WODI series against New Zealand Women after the home batters dominantly chased the 233-run target in the third WODI. While most of the Indian batters performed well, opener and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana recorded the highest WODI centuries by an India Women's batter. 

New Zealand Women scored 232 runs after winning the toss. In reply, India Women comfortably chased the target in 45.2 overs after losing four wickets. India Women won the three-match WODI series by 2-1. 

New Zealand Women had a weak start

New Zealand Women were struggling at 36/3 as Suzie Bates (4), Lauren Down (1), and captain Sophie Devine (9) lost their wickets in the single-digit scores. Although Georgia Plimmer and Brooke Halliday set a 30-run partnership for the fourth wicket to stabilise the innings, Plimmer was out on 39 off 67 balls with six fours. 

Brooke Halliday was the star in the first innings

While the middle-order batters were battling, Brooke Halliday was batting strongly on the other end. After completing her half-century in 72 balls, she batted aggressively to move the scoreboard faster. Her 86 off 96 balls guided New Zealand Women to set a challenging target for the hosts. Isabella Gaze (25) and Lea Tahuhu (24 not out off 14) also had some useful cameos. 

Deepti Sharma took three wickets

Among the Indian bowlers, Deepti Sharma (3/39) took three wickets and Priya Mishra (2/41) bagged two wickets. Also, Renuka Singh (1/49) and Saima Thakor (1/44) picked up one wicket each. 

Smriti Mandhana and Yastika Bhatia controlled the starting period

In reply, India Women lost the opener Shafali Verma very early, as she was dismissed after scoring 12 on 11 balls. However, another opener Smriti Mandhana finally found her form, while Yastika Bhatia provided solid support from the other end. Mandhana and Bhatia had a crucial 76-run partnership for the second wicket, which put the game in the hosts' favour.

Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur set a solid partnership

After the skipper Sophie Devine dismissed Bhatia for 35 runs, India Women dominated with Mandhana and captain Harmanpreet Kaur's third wicket partnership. The visitors failed to control the run flow as the hosts were comfortably chasing the target.

Mandhana and Kaur had a 117-run partnership for the third wicket. After completing her 50 runs in 73 balls, Mandhana completed her eighth WODI century in 121 balls. On the other hand, Kaur completed her half-century in 54 balls. 

Mandhana was dismissed after scoring 100 off 122 balls with 10 fours. Jemimah Rodrigues was in a hurry in the chasing as she scored 22 off 18 balls before losing her wicket on the scores level. Kaur ultimately finished the game with a fantastic four as she was not out on 59 runs off 63 balls with six fours. 

Mandhana broke Mithali Raj's record and reached the world record

By surpassing Mithali Raj's seventh WODI century, Mandhana set a new record for the most WODI centuries by an Indian cricketer with eight centuries. 

It was Mandhana's third WODI century at home, and she scored all these centuries in 2024. While she is the first Indian to score three WODI centuries in a calendar year, she also holds the joint record for most WODI centuries in a calendar year. Mandhana became the eighth player to record three WODI centuries in a calendar year. 

India's women’s cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur makes her return to the lineup for the second ODI against New Zealand on October 27 at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. Harmanpreet, who missed the series opener due to a niggle, reclaims her role as captain, with Smriti Mandhana filling in during her absence. India leads the three-match ODI series 1-0 after a solid 59-run victory in the first game. With Harmanpreet back and promising new talent Priya Mishra making her ODI debut, India looks set to challenge New Zealand again.

Harmanpreet Kaur's comeback after injury

Following India’s early exit from the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, Harmanpreet Kaur’s return is much anticipated. The captain had to sit out the first ODI, allowing Smriti Mandhana to step in as captain. Her comeback is expected to boost the Indian side as they aim to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. The match also brings excitement with the debut of wrist-spinner Priya Mishra, known for her recent standout performances.

Rising Star: Priya Mishra makes her debut

India has handed the debut cap to wrist-spinner Priya Mishra, whose remarkable five-wicket haul for India A in Australia recently caught the selectors' attention. In that match, Priya recorded figures of 5/14 in just five overs, leading her team to a 171-run victory while defending a target of 243. Her recent performance and promise as a wicket-taker make her a strong addition to the playing XI. To accommodate Harmanpreet and Priya, Dayalan Hemalatha and Renuka Singh were rested.

In an intense match, Priya Mishra showcased her skills with the ball, securing key moments for India. After a brilliant start, she claimed her first international wicket by dismissing Halliday, thanks to a stunning catch by Radha Yadav, who ran back, dived, and took it mid-air, surprising everyone. Mishra also caused a run-out earlier, getting Lauren Down out after deflecting a powerful drive with her fingertips. Despite a few missed fielding chances and boundary hits, including a fierce sweep from Green and a clean 50 from Bates, Mishra’s efforts kept the pressure on New Zealand, highlighting her growing impact in the team.

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Changes in New Zealand’s lineup

The White Ferns has also reshuffled their lineup due to a major setback as Melie Kerr, their star performer in the Women’s T20 World Cup and Player of the Tournament, suffered a quadriceps tear. Kerr’s absence prompted the inclusion of Fran Jonas and Lea Tahuhu in place of Kerr and Molly Penfold. Kerr’s all-round prowess will be sorely missed as she finished the recent T20 World Cup with record-breaking 15 wickets.

India took control of the series in the first ODI, defeating New Zealand by 59 runs. Setting a target of 228, India kept the pressure on the White Ferns, with Kerr shining in a valiant effort, claiming four wickets for 42 runs and scoring an unbeaten 25 off 23 balls. However, her efforts weren't enough, as New Zealand fell short in their chase. India now seeks to extend their lead, with New Zealand hoping to bounce back as Sophie Devine chose to bat first in the second ODI.

New Zealand have set a challenging total of 259/9 in their 50 overs, putting India in for a tough chase on a pitch where slower deliveries have proven tricky. Bates and Plimmer gave New Zealand a strong start with an 87-run opening partnership, with Bates reaching her half-century. Deepti Sharma broke the stand, sparking a phase where India took three quick wickets for just 41 runs. Later, Sophie Devine ramped up the scoring with powerful boundaries, finding support from Green to help New Zealand finish with a solid score. India will need to bat smartly to chase down this target.

India Women (Playing XI): Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Yastika Bhatia(w), Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Saima Thakor, Priya Mishra

New Zealand Women (Playing XI): Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Lauren Down, Sophie Devine(c), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze(w), Jess Kerr, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson, Fran Jonas

The 2024 Women's T20 World Cup has ended on a high note, with New Zealand being the triumphant side as they got their hands on its first-ever tournament title. This league has seen the clash of the best ten teams across the women's cricket ecosystem.

But, this edition has seen some shocking, unpleasing performances from those campaigners who have been promising in the long run. After a dismal streak of game display, here's the Flop Playing XI of the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup. 

1.Smriti Mandhana (India)

Smriti Mandhana, the flamboyant left-handed opener from India, had a forgettable tournament. After leading the Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad to their first Women's Premier League title, many expected she could apply the same calibre in this intense tournament. But scoring a mere 75 runs in four innings with one half-century to her name, the No.5 batter wasn't up to the mark and was criticized for her timid approach throughout this forgettable T20 World Cup.

2. Chamari Athapathatu (Sri Lanka) 

Chamari Athapathatu was prominent in the recent timelines of the Women's Cricket forum. Leading her side to win the Women's T20 World Cup Qualifiers and the Asia Cup, everyone had higher expectations from her to perform aggressively with her bat and captaincy. She has made 27 runs in just four matches, which didn't help convert her heroic run in this tournament.

3. Harmanpreet Kaur (India) (Captain)

Though Harmanpreet Kaur has been pretty good with the willow and made some crucial runs by scoring 150 runs at an average of 150 in just four games, the Indian captain did display a disappointing stint as a captain. Primarily due to unclear decision-making, lack of communication and mediocre lead-up to the emerging players, which attributed Kaur to be the captain for this Flop Playing XI of the tournament.

4. Heather Knight (England)

Heather Knight was one of the players to check out from the English side, thanks to her associations with the team for quite a long period of time. Being a reliable all-rounder, she couldn't convert it into crucial runs and wickets during the recent tournament. Knight scored just 27 runs in four matches, summing up her poor outing in the competitive league.   

5. Jemimah Rodrigues (India)

Jemimah Rodrigues, another Indian player on the women's World Cup flop list, had a perplexing campaign in which her batting position was never established. She was shifted up and down the order throughout the tournament, scoring only 68 runs in 4 innings.

6. Marizanne Kapp (South Africa)

Marizanne Kapp had a dismal campaign with the bat and the ball as South Africa advanced to the final. Kapp scored just 90 runs in six innings. Prominent for her lethal and hostile pace, Kapp took just a mere five wickets in six games. Kapp's poor performance was a significant factor in South Africa's defeat in the final.

Also Read: Women's T20 World Cup 2024: Best Playing XI of the Tournament

7. Richa Ghosh (India) (Wicketkeeper)

Richa Ghosh was expected to perform admirably for India with the bat and behind the stumps, but she performed horribly. Her faulty record-keeping assured India's poor performance on the pitch. Ghosh only managed 19 runs with the bat in four innings.

8. Fahima Khatun (Bangladesh)

Fahima Khatun from the Bangladesh side was expected to turn the tables with her spinning ability, but it didn't work in her arsenal's way. She was able to have four wickets on her hat in five matches, with a decent spinner's economy of over six.

9. Deepti Sharma (India)

Indian All-Rounder Deepti Sharma also disappointed fans with her performance, scoring only a bleak 49 runs in four games. In the critical encounters, Deepti wasn't up to the mark and didn't prove to be instrumental in such scenarios. She wasn't very appealing with her spinning abilities, as she took just four wickets in four games.

10. Rachel Slater (Scotland)

During the Women's T20 World Cup Qualifiers, Scotland's quickie, Rachel Slater, was meant to be promising, as she was the highest wicket-taker of that league. But, on the game's main stage, she was disappointed with her pace as she scalped just two wickets in four matches.

11. Ayabonga Khaka (South Africa)

Ayabonga Khaka has been one of the most reliable pacers for the runners-up Proteas side in the long-run aspects. But, based on this tournament, she didn't play much of a pivotal role in changing the game for her side with her quick pace. Khaka was able to scalp a mere four wickets in six games, which doesn't act synonymous, keeping her experience in mind.

India failed to bring their best game to the UAE and was eliminated from the Women's T20 World Cup 2024. India was projected to advance from the "Group of Death," which included reigning champions Australia and two-time finalists New Zealand, developing Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. However, Harmanpreet Kaur's team was only able to win the matches that were expected of them, and they were unable to compete with Australia and New Zealand.

Citing several reasons behind such a forgettable run, the Indian Women's side turned out to be a disappointment yet again, especially when they possessed the calibre to end up in the game's final stages. Here are the three probable significant factors behind the Indian women's side group-stage end of the 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup.

Time for a captain swap?

One of the primary reasons behind such a downfall would be Harmanpreet Kaur's mediocre captaincy effort. Kaur has been in charge of the Indian squad since being appointed in 2016. While the unit has been a regular late-season fixture in competitions, including a few final appearances, team management may contemplate a swap ahead of the important ODI World Cup in 2025 happening in India.

From juggling around the No.3 spot in their batting unit to not displaying a robust game calibre of the game by the youngsters, the captain acts as a face behind such responsibilities. Though she would be captaining the team in the upcoming bilateral series against New Zealand, BCCI can make a crucial decision about a captain change, especially when they have young and promising contenders in their arsenal for this spot. 

Lacklustre performance across all the departments.

Another reason for the Indian Women's Team's underperformance was the lack of a standout display from all cricketing departments. Experienced hitters like Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur, among others, failed to provide India an advantage with the bat, losing wickets at critical periods of their innings throughout the tournament. Shafali Verma's flamboyant attitude as an opener also lacked effectiveness.

While misfields and lost catches have been regular for the Women in Blue recently, the opposition were automatically granted an advantage, which also cost India the matches. Even the bowler's side wasn't able to unleash their X-factor, as they conceded a lot of runs during the death overs.

Also Read: Women's T20 World Cup 2024: Final, South Africa vs New Zealand - Key players to watch

Complete chaos with no intent and clarity.

As mentioned earlier, the Indian Women's team's performance was marred by a lack of clarity about player roles and tactics. This lack of intent and strategy was the most evident issue with India's campaign. It's about time the team got a reality check. To remedy the gaps in preparation, execution, and strategy, players and coaches must reflect, accept responsibility for their failures, and work harder.

India's Women's T20 World Cup performance raises further issues about the team's administration and leadership. The team's chances of healing from this painful event improve the sooner they admit their mistakes. India must prepare for both white-ball versions, with the impending 2025 Women's World Cup scheduled to happen amongst their home fans.