da gbg bet： Giants will also want to turn their poor record against MI around as the WPL moves to Mumbai
da lvbet： Shashank Kishore09-Mar-20255:45
How can Mumbai stop the Deandra Dottin threat?
Who’s playingMumbai Indians (MI) vs Gujarat Giants (GG)
Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, 7.30pm ISTWhat to expect: Top spot up for grabsRCB’s loss to UP Warriorz on Saturday night may have smoothened the passage into the playoffs for both MI and GG, but there’s still an extra edge to this contest as the top spot is still not booked.Giants have to win to entertain thoughts of finishing at No. 1. Mumbai have a game in hand and can get there even if they lose on Monday, but it would then mean a three-way tie should they beat RCB. They would want to avoid this logjam, having been in a similar position last year and then going down to RCB in the Eliminator.Related
The rise and roar of Kashvee Gautam
Mooney confident Gujarat Giants can challenge for WPL playoffs
GG are on a bull run, having won more games (three) over the past week than they did all of last season. But there’s one thing they haven’t done yet: beat MI, who have a 5-0 record against them in the tournament’s short history. If that wasn’t pressure enough, they now face the challenge of playing Harmanpreet Kaur’s MI in Mumbai, at the Brabourne Stadium, where they are yet to lose a single game.They have been the most explosive side in the middle-overs, courtesy Ash Gardner and new (old) signing Deandra Dottin. But MI have the best economy (6.6 runs an over) and average (17.9) in this phase. This battle will form the crux of the contest.The return to form of Harleen Deol, instrumental in GG’s stunning chase of 178 the other night against Delhi Capitals, bodes well. Kashvee Gautam’s all-round prowess and Beth Mooney’s unshackling at the top make them look more dangerous.MI look equally strong but have changed their batting combinations because of Yastika Bhatia’s prolonged lean run. In their previous game, Amelia Kerr was promoted to open with Hayley Mathews. It remains to be seen if this will be their plan at the back end too. If it is, it could mean a bigger batting responsibility for S Sajana and Amanjot Kaur in the middle order.Yastika Bhatia has been in poor batting form•WPL
Form guideMumbai Indians WLWWW
Gujarat Giants WWWLLTeam NewsD Hemalatha’s poor run at the top of the order may force a change for GG. Simran Shaikh, who plays for Mumbai in domestic cricket, could get a look-in to inject some lower-order firepower.Gujarat Giants (probable): 1 Beth Mooney (wk), 2 Phoebe Lichfield, 3 Harleen Deol, 4 Ash Gardner (capt), 5 Deandra Dottin, 6 Simran Shaikh, 7 Kashvee Gautam, 8 Bharti Fulmali, 9 Tanuja Kanwar, 10 Meghna Singh, 11 Priya MishraMumbai have no reason to tinker with their XI.Mumbai Indians (probable): 1 Hayley Matthews, 2 Amelia Kerr, 3 Nat Sciver-Brunt, 4 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 5 Amanjot Kaur, 6 Yastika Bhatia (wk), 7 G Kamalini, 8 S Sajana, 9 Sanskriti Gupta, 9 10 Shabnim Ismail, 11 Parunika SisodiaKashvee Gautam has been a revelation this season•BCCI
Players to watch: Hayley Matthews and Kashvee GautamHayley Matthews started poorly – not having crossed 20 in her first three games – but is slowly beginning to show the sparks of positivity she brings to her batting, especially up front in the powerplay, where she has made two half-centuries in her last three innings. Matthews’ return to form prevents more headaches at the top of the order for the Mumbai team management, especially with Bhatia struggling.Seam-bowling allrounders offer the kind of balance Harmanpreet Kaur has been yearning for as India captain. With Pooja Vastrakar suffering from a stress fracture, Kashvee Gautam’s performances with bat and ball for GG might have put her in national contention in a World Cup year. She’s easily one of the breakout stars of WPL 2025, and is leading the wickets’ chart for GG at this stage. Can she help them make their maiden final?Stats that matter Nat Sciver-Brunt, the season’s second-highest run-getter, loves playing at Brabourne Stadium, having scored 196 runs and got out only once in four outings at this venue in the WPL. GG have the most wickets (13) among all teams in the powerplay this season. Gardner’s 17 sixes are the most by a batter this season. There is no MI batter in the top five. MI’s economy of 8.6 is the highest in the powerplay this season. They have also picked up the joint-highest wickets (9) in this phase.
