The 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL) got off to a rousing start as defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured a thrilling win against Gujarat Giants (GG) at the Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara. Now, the action continues at the same venue, with two-time runners-up Delhi Capitals (DC) facing WPL 2023 winners Mumbai Indians (MI) in what promises to be another intense contest.
A high-scoring encounter is expected as these two well-balanced squads go head-to-head. In their five previous WPL meetings, MI have three wins, while DC has won twice. In T20 cricket, all-rounders play a crucial role, and all eyes will be on Mumbai Indians’ Nat Sciver-Brunt and Delhi Capitals’ Marizanne Kapp. Both players have been exceptional for their respective national teams, England and South Africa, and are considered greats of the game.
Nat Sciver-Brunt (MI)
England star Sciver-Brunt had a tough WPL season last year compared to her standout performance in the inaugural 2023 edition. She managed 10 wickets in nine innings at an economy rate of 7.96 while scoring 172 runs in nine innings at an average of 19.11 and a strike rate of 119.44.
Adding to her struggles, Sciver-Brunt had a disappointing T20I series against Australia in the recent Ashes. In three matches, she scored just 43 runs at an average of 14.33 and a strike rate of 122.85. With the ball, she went wicketless in all three games.
She has played five matches against DC in the WPL, scoring 107 runs at an average of 35.66 while picking up just two wickets. Her best knock came in the 2023 final, where her unbeaten 60 guided Mumbai Indians to victory while chasing 132. MI were struggling at 23/2, but Sciver-Brunt took charge and ensured the title win.
However, one pattern has emerged in her dismissals—she has been bowled every time she has gotten out against DC, all by pacers. Arundhati Reddy cleaned her up with a yorker, while Shikha Pandey and Marizanne Kapp got her with inswingers. So, if the DC bowlers can target her early with swinging deliveries, they might be able to send her back cheaply once again.
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Marizanne Kapp (DC)
Just like Sciver-Brunt, Kapp also had a disappointing WPL 2024 compared to her performances in the inaugural season for DC. She managed 79 runs in six innings, averaging 19.75 with a strike-rate of 133.89. With the ball, she picked up 11 wickets in seven innings at an economy rate of 6.28.
Against MI, Kapp has struggled with the bat, scoring just 47 runs in four innings at an average of 11.75 and a strike rate of 102.17. Notably, three of her four dismissals have come against spinners—Amelia Kerr (twice) and Saika Ishaque (once). So, MI’s spinners will once again be key when she comes to bat.
With the ball, however, Kapp has been more effective. She has picked up five wickets against MI and is the joint-highest wicket-taker for DC in WPL history with 20 wickets. One of her standout performances came in DC’s nine-wicket win over MI in 2023, where she was named Player of the Match for her 2/13 in four overs, dismissing Yastika Bhatia and Sciver-Brunt early to put MI on the back foot.
With both Kapp and Sciver-Brunt being legendary all-rounders, their performances will be crucial for their teams not just in this match, but throughout the third edition of the WPL.
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