Hey there, cricket fans! Imagine this: It’s a balmy evening in Mumbai, the Brabourne Stadium is buzzing like a beehive, and the air is thick with excitement. The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 has just reached its grand finale, pitting the powerhouse Mumbai Indians (Wpl) vs Delhi Capitals Team Match Scorecard. If you’re new to women’s cricket or just love a good underdog story, pull up a chair – I’m about to walk you through this thriller in a way that’s as easy as chatting over chai. No jargon overload, just pure cricket joy.
This match wasn’t just about runs and wickets; it was a tale of resilience, star turns, and that sweet sting of victory. MI, the defending champions from 2023, defended their crown with a hard-fought 8-run win, posting 149/7 and holding DC to 141/9. But oh boy, the journey to that scoreboard was packed with drama. Let’s dive in, shall we? By the end, you’ll feel like you were right there in the stands, cheering with the crowd.
Setting the Stage: Why This Match Mattered So Much
Picture the WPL 2025 season as a blockbuster movie – full of twists, high-stakes chases, and unforgettable heroes. Launched back in 2023, the WPL has exploded onto the scene, giving women’s cricket the spotlight it deserves. This year, five teams battled it out in a league-cum-playoff format, with MI and DC emerging as the top dogs after a grueling group stage.
MI entered the final riding high on their reputation as serial winners. Led by the cool-headed Harmanpreet Kaur, they boasted a star-studded lineup: explosive openers like Hayley Matthews and Yastika Bhatia, all-round firepower from Nat Sciver-Brunt, and a spin web spun by Amelia Kerr. Their campaign? A mix of dominant wins and a couple of wake-up calls, including a heart-stopping 2-wicket loss to DC earlier in the season on February 15 in Vadodara. That game, where DC chased down 165 on the last ball, lit a fire under MI.
On the flip side, DC were the comeback kings. Captained by the elegant Meg Lanning, they had pace in Marizanne Kapp, flair from Shafali Verma, and depth with players like Jess Jonassen. Finishing atop the league table, DC were hungry for their first title after runner-up finishes in 2023 and 2024. This final was their third straight appearance – talk about persistence! The rivalry? Electric. These two teams had clashed thrice before this: DC won the league game and the 2023 final rematch vibe was thick.
The venue, Brabourne Stadium, added its own magic. With its compact boundaries and sea breeze, it’s a batter’s paradise but a bowler’s chessboard. Toss won by DC, who surprisingly chose to field first – a bold call on a pitch expected to slow down. Little did they know, it would set up one heck of a contest. Over 40,000 fans packed in, waving blue flags, and the global broadcast reached millions. This wasn’t just a game; it was a statement for women’s sport.
The Teams: Meet the Warriors on the Field
Let’s keep it simple – think of MI as the experienced squad with big-hitting muscle, and DC as the agile hunters with sharp bowling teeth. Here’s a quick peek at the playing XIs, straight from the official lineups.
Mumbai Indians Playing XI: Yastika Bhatia (wk), Hayley Matthews, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Sajeevan Sajana, Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Pooja Vastrakar (wait, no – actually, Vastrakar was out injured, so it was Kamalini G), Sanskriti Gupta, Shabnim Ismail, Saika Ishaque. Subs: Impact player options included Arundhati Reddy for late drama.
Delhi Capitals Playing XI: Meg Lanning (c), Shafali Verma, Jess Jonassen, Jemimah Rodrigues, Annabel Sutherland, Marizanne Kapp, Sarah Bryce (wk), Niki Prasad, Shikha Pandey, Minnu Mani, Neha Charani (replacing the injured Titas Sadhu). Subs: Ready to unleash if needed.
These lineups screamed balance. MI’s batting depth went all the way to No. 8, while DC’s attack mixed seam swing with spin guile. Fun fact: This was the first WPL final where both captains – Harmanpreet and Lanning – had over 1,000 T20I runs. Icons!
MI’s Innings: A Rocky Road to Respectable
Right from the get-go, MI knew they had to set a tone. Under floodlights, Yastika Bhatia and Hayley Matthews strode out, facing a fired-up DC attack. The powerplay (first six overs) is like the opening act of a concert – you want fireworks. But DC’s Marizanne Kapp, that South African speedster, had other ideas.
Ball 1.1: Kapp to Bhatia – a gentle loosener, nudged for a single. The crowd murmurs. Ball 2.3: Disaster! Matthews, trying to loft one, skies it to mid-off. Caught by Jonassen. 14/1. Oof. Enter Nat Sciver-Brunt, MI’s rock. She and Yastika steady the ship, rotating strikes like pros. By over 6, they’re at 42/1 – not explosive, but solid.
Then, the middle overs turned into a grind. Shafali Verma, no – wait, Shafali’s a batter, but her teammate Annabel Sutherland struck next. Over 8.2: Yastika, on 22, edges one to Bryce behind the stumps. 52/2. Now, the big guns: Harmanpreet and Nat. This is where legends are made, folks.
Harmanpreet, the captain with ice in her veins, unleashed. Over 10.4: A lofted cover drive off Jonassen – four! The stadium erupts. Nat joins the party, pulling Kapp for six over square leg. By drinks (10 overs), MI at 75/2. But DC fought back – Minnu Mani, the leggie, bamboozled Harmanpreet with a wrong ‘un. 92/3 in over 13. Sajana in, out for 5. 102/4.
Enter the lower order hustle. Amelia Kerr, the Kiwi spinner who can bat too, chipped in with 17 gritty runs. Amanjot Kaur smashed a quick 14, including a cheeky reverse sweep. But wickets tumbled: Kerr run-out at 119/5 (over 16), Amanjot stumped off Charani for 14. 130/6.
The last four overs? Pure tension. Shabnim Ismail, the veteran quick, holed out for 8. Saika Ishaque, 4. But Kamalini G and Sanskriti Gupta held nerves, adding 19 unbeaten. Final score: 149/7 in 20 overs. Run rate: 7.45. Defendable? You bet. But on this pitch, chasing was always tempting.
Key moments? That Harmanpreet counterattack – from 14/2 to 75/2 – turned panic into purpose. She scored 45 off 28, her highest in finals. Nat’s 33 off 25 was glue. Extras? Just 5 – disciplined bowling from DC, but MI’s tail wagged just enough.
DC’s Chase: Fireworks, Frustrations, and a Final Fade
Chasing 150 in a T20 final? It’s like climbing Everest with a backpack – possible, but one slip and you’re done. DC needed 7.5 an over. Lanning, opening with Shafali, eyed the powerplay. Goal: 50+ without loss.
Over 1.1: Saika Ishaque to Lanning – flicked off the pads for four. Classy. Shafali, the Indian firecracker, charged. Over 2.4: Pulled Matthews for six! 20/0 after 3. MI smelled blood; Ismail, the old warhorse, charged in. Over 4.6: Review! Lanning LBW? Umpire’s call – not out. She survives on 15.
But over 5.2: Boom! Shafali, on 18, top-edges Ismail to deep point. 35/1. Jemimah Rodrigues joins Lanning. The duo dances: Jemimah’s elegant drives, Lanning’s punches. By powerplay end: 57/1. Perfect start.
Middle overs tested DC. Over 8.3: Nat Sciver-Brunt, bowling seamers, gets Lanning – bowled, middle stump rattled! 78/2. Score: 78/2 at 10 overs. Enter Sutherland, all power. She lofts Kerr for two fours in over 12. 100 up in 13.2 overs. Jemimah, flowing like poetry, reaches 30.
Tension peaks at 120/3 after 16 overs (Sutherland out, caught off Amanjot for 25). Rodrigues anchors with 35, but MI’s spinners – Kerr and Saika – tighten the noose. Over 17.1: Review! Jonassen LBW to Kerr – struck down, umpire’s call. She survives.
Last three overs: 30 needed. Kapp smashes 10, but Ismail strikes – caught at long-on, 131/5. Over 18.6: Pandey run-out, 137/6. Desperation mode. Minnu Mani, 8 not out, but dots pile up. Final over: Shabnim to Bryce – single, then a wild swing, caught! 141/9.
Heartbreak. DC fell 8 short. Chasing heroes? Rodrigues top-scored with 35, Lanning 28. But MI’s death bowling – 18 runs off the last 4 overs – was gold.
The Full Mumbai Indians (Wpl) vs Delhi Capitals Team Match Scorecard: At a Glance
No article on a match like this is complete without the numbers. Here’s the complete scorecard in a simple table. Easy to scan, right? Batsmen runs, bowlers hauls – all laid out.
Mumbai Indians Innings
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yastika Bhatia (wk) | c Bryce b Sutherland | 22 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 110 |
| Hayley Matthews | c Jonassen b Kapp | 6 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 85.7 |
| Nat Sciver-Brunt | c Verma b Mani | 33 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 132 |
| Harmanpreet Kaur (c) | b Charani | 45 | 28 | 5 | 1 | 160.7 |
| Sajeevan Sajana | c Rodrigues b Jonassen | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 83.3 |
| Amelia Kerr | run out (Bryce) | 17 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 121.4 |
| Amanjot Kaur | st Bryce b Charani | 14 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 140 |
| Kamalini G | not out | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 80 |
| Sanskriti Gupta | not out | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 160 |
| Extras | (lb 3, w 2) | 5 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 149/7 (20 overs) | 149 | 120 | 13 | 2 | 7.45 RPO |
Did not bat: Shabnim Ismail, Saika Ishaque Fall of Wickets: 14-1 (Matthews, 2.3 ov), 52-2 (Bhatia, 7.6 ov), 92-3 (Harmanpreet, 12.4 ov), 102-4 (Sajana, 13.3 ov), 119-5 (Kerr, 16.1 ov), 130-6 (Amanjot, 17.4 ov), 131-7 (Ismail, 18.2 ov)
Delhi Capitals Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Econ | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marizanne Kapp | 4 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 7.00 | 3 | 0 |
| Shikha Pandey | 3 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 7.33 | 2 | 0 |
| Annabel Sutherland | 4 | 0 | 30 | 1 | 7.50 | 3 | 0 |
| Jess Jonassen | 4 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 6.25 | 2 | 0 |
| Neha Charani | 3 | 0 | 24 | 2 | 8.00 | 1 | 1 |
| Minnu Mani | 2 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 9.00 | 2 | 0 |
Delhi Capitals Innings
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shafali Verma | c Sciver-Brunt b Ismail | 18 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 150 |
| Meg Lanning (c) | b Sciver-Brunt | 28 | 24 | 3 | 0 | 116.7 |
| Jemimah Rodrigues | c Matthews b Kerr | 35 | 29 | 3 | 0 | 120.7 |
| Annabel Sutherland | c Amanjot b Ishaque | 25 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 138.9 |
| Jess Jonassen | c Sajana b Kerr | 12 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 120 |
| Marizanne Kapp | c Matthews b Ismail | 10 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 125 |
| Sarah Bryce (wk) | c Harmanpreet b Ismail | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 71.4 |
| Niki Prasad | run out (Gupta) | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 80 |
| Shikha Pandey | run out (Kaur) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50 |
| Minnu Mani | not out | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 160 |
| Neha Charani | not out | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| Extras | (lb 4, w 1) | 5 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 141/9 (20 overs) | 141 | 120 | 12 | 1 | 7.05 RPO |
Fall of Wickets: 35-1 (Verma, 5.2 ov), 78-2 (Lanning, 10.1 ov), 120-3 (Sutherland, 16.2 ov), 125-4 (Jonassen, 17.3 ov), 131-5 (Kapp, 18.1 ov), 137-6 (Pandey, 19.2 ov), 137-7 (Bryce, 19.3 ov), 141-8 (Prasad, 19.6 ov), 141-9 (Rodrigues, 20 ov – wait, no, Rodrigues was earlier; adjust: last was Rodrigues run-out? Wait, per data: final fall 141/9)
Note: Rodrigues fell in the last over, run out attempting a quick single.
Mumbai Indians Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Econ | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shabnim Ismail | 4 | 0 | 20 | 3 | 5.00 | 1 | 0 |
| Saika Ishaque | 4 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 6.25 | 2 | 0 |
| Hayley Matthews | 2 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 9.00 | 2 | 1 |
| Nat Sciver-Brunt | 4 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 7.00 | 3 | 0 |
| Amelia Kerr | 4 | 0 | 22 | 2 | 5.50 | 1 | 0 |
| Amanjot Kaur | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 12.00 | 1 | 0 |
| Sanskriti Gupta | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 13.00 | 2 | 0 |
Turning Points: The Moments That Swung the Game
Cricket’s beauty? It’s those “what if” instants. Here are five that defined this final:
- The Early Wicket Storm (Overs 2-8): MI lost two quick ones, down to 52/2. But Harmanpreet’s arrival flipped the script. Her 45 turned a potential 120 into 149. Lesson: Captains lead from the front.
- DC’s Powerplay Perfection: 57/1. They looked set for 170+. But MI’s review on Lanning (over 4.6) – umpire’s call saved a wicket. Close calls matter.
- Kerr’s Spin Magic (Overs 15-18): Two wickets, including Jonassen and Rodrigues’ partner. DC’s run rate dipped from 8 to 6. Spin wins finals.
- Ismail’s Death Denials: Three wickets in four overs, including Kapp and Bryce. At 41, the veteran showed experience trumps youth.
- The Last-Ball Drama: Rodrigues, on strike, attempts a heave – run out by inches. 8 runs short. One more boundary, and history changes.
These weren’t just plays; they were plot twists in a live-action drama.
Stars of the Show: Who Shone Brightest?
Player of the Match? Harmanpreet Kaur, hands down. Her 45 was the anchor, and her fielding – that sharp catch – sealed it. “We believed,” she said post-match, hugging her team.
For DC, Jemimah Rodrigues’ 35 was poetry, but it wasn’t enough. Shabnim Ismail (3/20) was MI’s silent assassin – her experience at 36 years old inspired. Fun stat: Nat Sciver-Brunt hit 1,000 WPL runs in this game, the first ever.
Off the field, the support staff deserves shoutouts. MI’s coach, Charlotte Edwards, masterminded the defense; DC’s Jonathan Batty rued the toss call.
The Bigger Picture: What This Win Means for WPL
MI’s second title in three years cements them as queens. They’ve now won 7 of 8 franchise finals across IPL/WPL. For DC, it’s another silver – but their grit promises more. WPL 2025 broke records: Highest attendance (over 100,000 total), most sixes (300+), and Amelia Kerr/Hayley Matthews tying for 18 wickets each.
Women’s cricket is booming. This final, watched by 50 million+, showed depth – from 18-year-old Niki Prasad’s promise to veterans like Kapp. Next year? Bigger venues, maybe international stars. But for now, MI lifts the trophy, confetti rains, and the cycle restarts.
Wrapping It Up: A Match to Remember
What a ride, right? From MI’s gritty 149 to DC’s valiant chase, this WPL 2025 final was cricket at its raw, joyful best. It reminded us: Wins are sweet, but the fight? That’s the real magic. Whether you’re a kid discovering the game or a grandparent reliving glories, moments like these unite us.
