A big game is on the cards today (January 20), in the ongoing WPL 2026, as Delhi Capitals (DC) take on the defending champions, Mumbai Indians (MI), at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. For DC, it has been a tough season so far under their new captain, Jemimah Rodrigues. With just one win from four matches, the Vadodara leg could serve as a fresh start for them, and as a unit, they would like to make the most of it.
Eyes will be on Chinelle Henry’s fitness and whether she will be available for this clash. However, if she is fit, DC will face a selection dilemma. Will they drop Lucy Hamilton, who impressed with both bat and ball on her debut against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), or will they take the bold call of leaving out veteran all-rounder Marizanne Kapp, who has struggled for form with the bat so far? That remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, despite winning two of their first three games, Harmanpreet Kaur’s MI seem to have lost momentum after suffering back-to-back defeats in their last two matches. The manner in which UP Warriorz (UPW) outplayed them on both occasions has left MI fans with several questions ahead of the Vadodara leg.
Fitness concerns around players like Hayley Matthews, lack of clarity over defined roles, using four different opening pairs in five games, and dropping Shabnim Ismail despite having no other experienced premium pacer in the squad are all under scrutiny.
In the reverse fixture, MI registered a convincing 50-run win over DC at the DY Patil Stadium. So, can they complete a season double, or will DC kick off their Vadodara leg with a much-needed victory? The stage is set at Kotambi Stadium.
Standings
Delhi Capitals: 5th position, 4 matches – 1 win, 3 losses, 2 points, NRR -0.856
Mumbai Indians: 2nd position, 5 matches – 2 wins, 3 losses, 4 points, NRR +0.151
Head-to-head record in the WPL
Overall: 9 matches – DC 4, MI 5
At Kotambi Stadium: 1 match – DC 1, MI 0
DC record at Kotambi Stadium: 3 matches – Won 2, Lost 1
MI record at Kotambi Stadium: 2 matches – Won 1, Lost 1
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What happened in the first meeting of this edition?
MI were asked to bat first and delivered a strong performance, posting 195/4 in 20 overs. After losing Amelia Kerr for a golden duck and G Kamalini for 16, the 66-run partnership between Nat Sciver-Brunt and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur for the third wicket steadied the innings. Nat scored 70 off 46 balls, while Harmanpreet remained unbeaten on 74 off 42 as MI crossed the 190-run mark. Nicola Carey also contributed 21 off 12, adding 53 runs with Harmanpreet for the fourth wicket. For DC, Nandni Sharma was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2/26.
In reply, DC found themselves in deep trouble, losing half their side for just 46 runs in seven overs. The top five batters – Lizelle Lee, Shafali Verma, Laura Wolvaardt, captain Jemimah Rodrigues, and Marizanne Kapp, all failed to make an impact. Youngster Niki Prasad added a few runs, while Chinelle Henry fought back with a 56 off 33 balls. However, DC were eventually bowled out for 145 in 19 overs, losing the match by 50 runs in Navi Mumbai. Nicola Carey and Amelia Kerr picked up three wickets each, while Harmanpreet Kaur was named Player of the Match.
Players to watch out for
DC – Shafali Verma
Shafali Verma is coming off a fine knock against RCB, where she scored 62 off 41 balls. More than the runs, it was her maturity and ability to play according to the situation that stood out. DC had a disastrous start and were reduced to 10/4. Shafali was seen constantly communicating with Niki Prasad, Sneh Rana, and Lucy Hamilton, which helped them bat sensibly and take the team to a competitive total. Against RCB, Shafali showed leadership along with her batting, something DC fans would like to see consistently. In four matches so far, she has scored 120 runs at a strike rate of 122.44.
MI – Harmanpreet Kaur
Harmanpreet Kaur, the skipper, might be feeling the pressure ahead of this clash, with MI losing three of their five matches so far. However, her role with the bat remains crucial. In both of MI’s wins this season, she was named Player of the Match, scoring unbeaten knocks of 71 against GG and 74 against DC.
In the last two games, she failed to convert her starts into big scores, which impacted MI while setting or chasing totals. Against DC, Harmanpreet has an excellent record, scoring 336 runs in nine innings at an average of 48 and a strike rate of 141.77, the most by any MI batter against DC in WPL history. MI fans will hope their skipper adds to that tally and leads from the front.
Probable Playing XIs
DC
Shafali Verma, Lizelle Lee (WK), Laura Wolvaardt, Jemimah Rodrigues (C), Marizanne Kapp, Niki Prasad, Lucy Hamilton, Sneh Rana, Minnu Mani, N Shree Charani, Nandni Sharma
MI
G Kamalini (WK), Amelia Kerr, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Amanjot Kaur, Nicola Carey, Sajeevan Sajana, Sanskriti Gupta, Kranthi Reddy, Triveni Vasistha, Shabnim Ismail
Also Read: GG vs RCB, WPL 2026: RCB look to extend perfect run against Gujarat Giants in Vadodara
