Delhi Capitals Fall Short Against Mumbai Indians in WPL 2026 Opener

In their first match of the Women's Premier League 2026, the Delhi Capitals faced a 50-run defeat against the Mumbai Indians. Despite a commendable half-century from Chinelle Henry, the Capitals struggled to chase a target of 196 runs. Coach Jonathan Batty reflected on the team's performance, highlighting both the positives and areas for improvement. With confidence in their batting lineup, the Capitals look to bounce back in their next match against the Gujarat Giants. Read on for a detailed analysis of the game and Batty's insights.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 11, 2026, 12:55 IST

Match Overview

In their opening match of the Women's Premier League 2026, the Delhi Capitals suffered a defeat by 50 runs against the Mumbai Indians at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy on Saturday. Chasing a target of 196 runs, the Capitals were all out for 145 in just 19 overs, with Chinelle Henry contributing a notable half-century, scoring 56 runs off 33 balls.

Mumbai's Strong Performance

The Mumbai Indians set a challenging total of 195 for 4, bolstered by impressive half-centuries from both Harmanpreet Kaur and Nat Sciver-Brunt.

Coach Jonathan Batty's Insights

During the post-match press conference, Delhi Capitals' Head Coach Jonathan Batty shared his thoughts on the game, stating, "The wicket was quite good. We bowled well in the initial ten overs and were satisfied with our performance. However, we missed a couple of key wickets, allowing their top players to build a strong partnership."

Bowling and Batting Analysis

Batty evaluated the bowling performance, noting, "Our strategies were effective, with about 75% of our bowling execution being solid. However, when we missed our targets, it was significant, which allowed the opposition to score freely. Given the quick outfield and short boundaries, a score of 190 is achievable with our batting strength."

On the batting front, he remarked, "We didn't perform as expected with the bat today. It was just one of those days. Nicola Carey bowled exceptionally well, particularly in one over during the powerplay, which put us under pressure by taking two crucial wickets."

Confidence in the Team

Batty expressed confidence in the team's composition and batting order, stating, "I am very pleased with our batting lineup. We have a strong top seven or eight, with Sneh Rana at number eight. This lineup is capable of scoring heavily throughout the tournament. We continuously reassess our strategies, but I am optimistic about this group. Players like Laura Wolvaardt and Jemimah Rodrigues possess significant talent, and I believe they will find their rhythm soon."

He also commended debutant Nandni Sharma for her performance, saying, "Nandni has been on our radar for a while. She has participated in several trial camps and had a successful domestic season. Her training has been impressive, and she bowled excellently in various roles. Achieving figures of 2 for 26 on her debut is a fantastic start to her WPL journey."

Looking Forward

Despite the loss, Batty highlighted several positives from the match, stating, "At one point, we were at 88 for 6 while they were at 88 for 2. This illustrates how the game was balanced at that moment. There are many positives to take from this, and we will discuss them in our debrief."

The Delhi Capitals are set to face the Gujarat Giants in their next WPL 2026 match on Sunday, January 11, at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.