In a shocking turn of events, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) delivered a defeat to Mumbai Indians (MI) in WPL 2025, stopping them from claiming the top position in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025.
The victory also denied MI a direct entry into the final, which they wanted to achieve. Despite needing a victory to finish at the top of the table, MI’s underwhelming performance in the field and batting collapse left them fall short with RCB eventually winning by 11 runs.
MI’s Fielding Flaws and Batting Collapse in WPL 2025
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Mumbai Indians were keen to end the league stage on top, but their inability to deliver both in the field and with the bat worked against them.
Their poor fielding performance saw RCB put up a fighting total, which was too tough for MI to overhaul in the end. Even though MI’s bowling department gave it their all to defend the score, it was evident that the fielding mishaps and some crucial batting collapses had killed their chances.
RCB’s All-Round Performance to Finish on a High Note WPL 2025
RCB’s win was a mirror image of their exquisitely done performance, especially after such a tough season. The victory saved them from being in the bottom lot and uplifted their spirits to finish the league stage. Each played their role in achieving this.
The fifty posted by opening batwoman Smriti Mandhana built a base for the score, whereas some fluent strokeplay from S Meghana helped in clocking up those runs with ease.
While the middle overs saw Ellyse Perry provide some much-needed stability and anchor the innings. But it was a few cameos from Richa Ghosh and Georgia Wareham towards the end that set the finals previously into fire, as both struck quick boundaries when needed.
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MI’s batting performance, Sciver-Brunt’s heroic knock in WPL 2025
Chasing 200, MI found themselves on the back foot early doors, losing their first key devourers quickly. With the loss of prodigies like Hayley Matthews and captain Harmanpreet Kaur, MI had to rely heavily on Nat Sciver-Brunt.
The English international played a phenomenal knock, hitting 69 off 35 balls, but when she was finally dismissed in the fifteenth over, MI’s hopes were all but shattered.
MI needed 71 runs off just 31 balls, so with no major batting strength here, their hopes of winning were all but extinguished as they surrendered, and bowled out for less than the target.
The Impact of RCB’s Victory in WPL 2025
RCB’s win was important not just in the context of a badly needed victory but also in depriving MI of the opportunity to lead the league and earn a direct finals spot.
The win demonstrated the importance of regular all-round performances in high-intensity WPL, and RCB demonstrated that a team effort is the key to success. The loss was for MI the need to be consistent, both with the bat and in the field, particularly at the top level.
With this defeat, the MI was now forced to play in an eliminator against another team, as opposed to going directly to the finals. RCB would have the advantage of continuing their momentum as the WPL 2025 season proceeds, while MI would have to pull together and rethink everything about their game plan before the eliminator.
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