Mumbai Indians have set a high benchmark in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). In 2023, they won the inaugural title with a near-flawless campaign, losing only two games and finishing the league stage with five consecutive wins. Their star-studded squad, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, delivered in crunch moments, with Nat Sciver-Brunt’s 60* (55) sealing the final against Delhi Capitals.
In WPL 2024, MI remained strong but faced stiffer competition. They finished second in the league stage with a 5-3 record but stumbled in the playoffs, losing the Eliminator to a resurgent RCB. Their campaign saw brilliance from Hayley Matthews (11 wickets, 187 runs) and Amelia Kerr (226 runs, 10 wickets), but injuries and middle-order inconsistency hurt them at crucial moments.
With teams strengthening in WPL 2025, MI will need to sharpen their game. Here’s a SWOT analysis to break down their prospects.
SWOT Analysis of Mumbai Indians in WPL 2025
Strengths
- Experienced Core: The leadership of Harmanpreet (250+ runs in both seasons) and all-round brilliance of Sciver-Brunt (332 runs in 2023, 264 runs in 2024) keep MI ahead in pressure situations.
- Strong All-Rounders: MI’s engine runs on the versatility of Kerr (226 runs, 10 wickets in 2024) and Matthews (187 runs, 11 wickets), allowing flexible combinations.
- Winning Mentality: A franchise with a title-winning culture, MI has a history of stepping up in crunch games.
- Spin Attack: With Matthews, Kerr, and Saika Ishaque (15 wickets in 2023), MI’s spin depth remains a huge asset.
Weaknesses
- Over-Reliance on Key Players: In 2024, MI’s batting leaned heavily on Harmanpreet, Sciver-Brunt, and Kerr, with minimal contributions from domestic Indian batters.
- Pace Concerns: Beyond Shabnim Ismail (In the last WPL, eight wickets in seven inns, Econ 6.17) MI lacks a reliable out and out pace option.
- Middle-Order Instability: MI struggled to accelerate in the middle overs when Sciver-Brunt, Kerr and Harmanpreet failed, exposing a fragile lower order.
Opportunities
- Indian Talent to Step Up: Domestic batters like Yastika Bhatia (who had a strike rate of just 112.28 in 2024) have a chance to improve their returns and reduce reliance on overseas stars.
- Pace Reinforcements: If MI finds a consistent Indian pacer, it could balance their squad and reduce dependence on Wong.
- Tactical Innovation: With two seasons of data available, MI must evolve their game plans to counter the league’s rising competition.
Threats
- Stronger Rivals: Delhi Capitals and RCB have significantly improved, making playoff qualification tougher than before.
- Injuries to Key Players: With Sciver-Brunt and Wong already having injury concerns in 2024, MI must manage workloads carefully.
- Batting Powerhouses in Opposition: Teams like Delhi Capitals and UP Warriorz now have explosive batters who can take MI’s bowling apart.
Full Squad: Amanjot Kaur, Amelia Kerr, Chloe Tryon, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Hayley Matthews, Jintimani Kalita, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Pooja Vastrakar, Saika Ishaque, Yastika Bhatia, Shabnim Ismail, Amandeep Kaur, S. Sajana, Keerthana, Nadine de Klerk, G Kamalini, Sanskriti Gupta, Akshita Maheshwari
New recruits: Nadine de Klerk (Rs. 30 lakh), G Kamalini (Rs. 1.60 crore), Sanskriti Gupta (Rs. 10 lakh), Akshita Maheshwari (Rs. 20 lakh)
Predicted XI – Hayley Mathews, Yastika Bhatia(wk), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Amelia Kerr, S Sajana, Pooja Vastrakar, Amanjot Kaur, Jintimani Kalita, Shabnim Ismail, Saika Ishaque.
Also Read: SWOT analysis, WPL 2025: Can injury-hit RCB defend the title?