MI skipper powers team to historic seven-wicket victory
In a display of sheer dominance, Mumbai Indians (MI) maintained their unbeaten streak against Gujarat Giants, securing a thrilling seven-wicket victory in the ongoing WPL 2026. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur led from the front with a spectacular unbeaten 71 off just 43 balls, helping her side chase down a massive target of 193.
This victory marks the second-highest successful run chase in the history of the Women’s Premier League. It also extends MI's perfect head-to-head record against the Giants to 8-0. Interestingly, Mumbai Indians have never lost a match when their skipper scores a half-century, a streak that has now reached ten games.
Gujarat Giants Post Challenging Total
After being asked to bat first, Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Giants turned into a run-fest early on. Despite losing Sophie Devine for just 8 runs, the Giants kept the scoreboard ticking. Kanika Ahuja, promoted to number three due to Anushka Sharma’s injury, played an aggressive role alongside Beth Mooney.
However, the real drama unfolded late in the innings. Ayushi Soni became the first player in WPL history to be "retired out" to make way for a more aggressive batter. The tactic worked perfectly as Bharti Fulmali smashed 36 runs, including two sixes in the final over, propelling the Giants to a formidable 192 for 5.
The Harmanpreet Show
Chasing 193, MI needed a strong foundation. While Hayley Matthews contributed a quick 22, it was the partnership between Amanjot Kaur and Harmanpreet Kaur that stabilized the innings. Amanjot played fearlessly, hitting clean sixes before falling to a slower ball from Devine.
When the equation became tough, requiring 84 runs from 48 balls, Nicola Carey joined the crease. She turned the tide in the 16th over, hammering five boundaries off Renuka Singh. This reduced the pressure significantly, allowing Harmanpreet to reach her fifty off 33 balls.
Fielding errors proved costly for the Giants, who dropped the MI captain three times. punishing these mistakes, Harmanpreet sealed the game with a boundary, ensuring MI cruised home with five balls to spare.
