Mumbai Indians Opt to Bowl First Against Gujarat Giants in WPL Clash
Mumbai Indians Choose to Field First
Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 13: In a thrilling encounter at DY Patil Stadium, the Mumbai Indians (MI) won the toss and decided to field first against the Gujarat Giants (GG) during their Women’s Premier League (WPL) match on Tuesday.
Currently, MI holds the third position in the tournament, having faced a defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their opening game but bouncing back with a solid 50-run victory over Delhi Capitals (DC). Conversely, GG has had a strong start, securing wins against UP Warriorz and DC.
MI captain Harmanpreet Kaur expressed her strategy during the toss, stating, “We are opting to bowl first. I trust the dew factor, especially in late games where chasing tends to be advantageous. We are focusing on all aspects, and our bowlers are executing their plans effectively. While batting, we aim to start positively in the initial six overs. With Hayley back and fit, we hope to strengthen our performance. Unfortunately, Nat (Sciver-Brunt) is unwell today, so Hayley will take her place. She consistently performs well with both bat and ball, and we are counting on her to step up for the team.”
On the other side, GG captain Ashleigh Gardner humorously remarked about her toss luck, saying, “I can’t seem to win a toss lately, but that’s alright. The power play has been crucial for us. We have a wealth of experience at the top with Sophie (Devine) and Moons (Beth Mooney) batting together. Their extensive time in franchise cricket has been beneficial, and it’s gratifying to see our successful combination in action.”
Gardner added, “Some bowlers perform exceptionally well on the day, and we trust them to deliver. For us, it’s essential to keep our plans straightforward. This ground is notoriously difficult to defend, so we aim to set a substantial total that will challenge the opposition. While overseas players bring valuable experience, it’s often the Indian players who truly secure tournament victories. Our Indian players have consistently stepped up, making my role as captain easier by not relying solely on a few key players. We focus on celebrating small victories and maintaining simplicity in our approach. Today, we have one change: Anushka (Sharma) is sidelined due to injury, and Ayushi (Soni) will make her debut.
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 (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.