Mumbai Indians Opt to Bowl First Against Gujarat Giants in WPL Clash

In a thrilling Women's Premier League match, the Mumbai Indians won the toss and chose to bowl first against the Gujarat Giants. MI, currently in third place, aims to build on their recent victory after an initial loss. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur emphasized the importance of chasing, while GG's Ashleigh Gardner highlighted the experience of her team. With key players making their debuts and returning from injury, this match promises to be an exciting encounter. Stay tuned for more updates on the game!

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 13, 2026, 20:16 IST

Mumbai Indians Win Toss and Choose to Field

In a Women's Premier League (WPL) match held at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, the Mumbai Indians (MI) won the toss and decided to field first against the Gujarat Giants (GG) on Tuesday. Currently, MI ranks third in the tournament, having lost their initial match to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) but bounced back with a 50-run victory over Delhi Capitals (DC). Conversely, GG began their campaign with two consecutive wins against UP Warriorz and DC.

Harmanpreet Kaur's Strategy

MI captain Harmanpreet Kaur expressed her preference for bowling first, stating, "We are going to bowl first. I believe in dew, and especially when you are playing late games, chasing is always a better option. I think we are ticking all the areas. We are discussing in meetings, and the bowlers are executing their plans. I think, while batting, we are really looking to go out and bat positively in the first six overs. And now Hayley's back, she is fit, so hopefully we will click in that area as well. Unfortunately, Nat (Sciver-Brunt) is not well today, so in her place, Hayley's back. She's someone who always performs well with both bat and ball, and we are really looking to have her come in and take responsibility for the team."

Ashleigh Gardner on Team Dynamics

On the other side, GG captain Ashleigh Gardner humorously noted her struggles with the toss, saying, "I cannot win one (toss) at the moment, but that is okay. I think the power play has been huge. Obviously, we have got so much experience at the top of the order with Sophie (Devine) and Moons (Beth Mooney) batting together. They have spent so much time out in the middle in franchise cricket. So I guess to have a combination that has worked in the past and be able to put it into practice here has been really pleasing to see."

"Some players bowl exceptionally well on the day, and you kind of throw them the ball and ask them to do a job. But I think for us, it's about keeping our plans really simple. You know this ground, it is obviously really hard to defend. So, making sure that we put on a big total for them to hopefully not chase. Overseas players add a lot of experience and depth, but I think the Indian players are actually the ones who win you tournaments. All the Indian players who have come in and done a job for us have been fantastic. They have stepped up at different times, and I guess as a captain, it makes your job a little bit easier, not having to rely on one or two players or overseas players for that matter. So for us, it is about celebrating the small wins, the success that comes with that, and just trying to keep things really simple. One team change today. Anushka (Sharma) is unfortunately out with an injury, and Ayushi (Soni) makes her debut today."

Playing XIs

Mumbai Indians Women

Mumbai Indians Women (Playing XI): Hayley Matthews, G Kamalini(w), Amelia Kerr, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Nicola Carey, Sajeevan Sajana, Amanjot Kaur, Sanskriti Gupta, Poonam Khemnar, Shabnim Ismail, Triveni Vasistha

Gujarat Giants Women

Gujarat Giants Women (Playing XI): Beth Mooney(w), Sophie Devine, Ashleigh Gardner(c), Georgia Wareham, Bharti Fulmali, Ayushi Soni, Kanika Ahuja, Kashvee Gautam, Tanuja Kanwar, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh Thakur.