The Mumbai Indians have enjoyed a huge amount of success in the Indian Premier League over the years, with many of cricket’s biggest stars wearing their colours. Therefore, it seems fitting that this iconic brand will also experience its own unique privileges and pressures when it joins WPL 2023. To follow in Rohit Sharma’s footsteps, they’ve wisely chosen to bring in Harmanpreet Kaur as captain – an experience Indian cricketer already well-versed in leading her nation on the field. With such strong leadership at the helm the future looks bright for Mumbai Indians’ maiden WPL season, and fans alike eagerly await the team’s first outing!
Harmanpreet is blessed to have such a deep and talented roster at her disposal. Matthews and Sciver-Brunt are both proven match-winners, while Tryon provides the side with power and potential from the middle order. This batting lineup is sure to make life difficult for opposing bowlers and fielders, earning Harmanpreet praise up and down the country as her team looks likely to rival even some of the strongest sides in the tournament. With careful management, this squad could very well go be one of the top finishers by the year’s end.
The powerplays at the start of a game might be an area of concern for this side. While Matthews and Bhatia are reliable and steady openers, they might not be able to provide explosive performances that many teams desire during these crucial periods. However, the solid middle-order and lower-order should give enough fire-power to the team; their success ultimately depends on their tactical calls and the extent to which they maximize all the resources available.
Mumbai Indians (MI) have recently been leaving a lot to be desired in the spin-bowling department, and the same looks to be the case when they move into the Women’s Premier League (WPL). While they have two established overseas options with Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr, both already having international recognition, they are yet to try out any promising domestic talent. Given that 11 matches will be hosted at each venue it’ll be interesting to see how MI fare if their gamble pays off in the long run. The pitches can tire up towards the end of WPL so MI would do well to reconsider their strategy for future matches.
Predicted XIs
Hayley Matthews, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur, Amelia Kerr, Dhara Gujjar, Chloe Tryon, Pooja Vastrakar, Amanjot Kaur, Jintimani Kalita, Saika Ishaque / Sonam Yadav
MVP
Natalie Sciver-Brunt is having a tremendous season and is one of the most important pieces in MI’s success. As the best all-rounder in international women’s cricket, Sciver-Brunt brings both power and solidity to the Mumbai Indians lineup with her brilliant bowling and incredible batting. Her batting was pivotal in England’s score being the first ever 200+ in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup history. With her sheer talent, Natalie Sciver-Brunt has proved herself to be quite a game-changer for this Mumbai Indians squad, making it hard to overlook her contribution.
Coaching staff
Charlotte Edwards is widely recognised as one of the greatest players in women’s league cricket, having earned distinction not only for her successes on the pitch, but also for her decades-long efforts to advance female athletes. With that legacy and perspective in mind, it makes perfect sense that she will become Head Coach for Mumbai Indians’ Women’s team. Edwards is supported by an equally impressive team of mentors and coaches – former Indian international Jhulan Goswami taking on dual roles of Team Mentor and Bowling Coach, Devieka Palshikaar as Batting Coach, Lydia Greenway as Fielding Coach, and Trupti Chandgadkar Bhattacharya serving as Team Manager. This assortment of wisdom and talent across various aspects of the game presents a major opportunity for Mumbai Indians’ Women’s side to realize its potential in competing at the top level and achieving greatness.
It’s hardly surprising that the Mumbai Indians (MI) have assembled an impressive coaching staff for their team. Current head coach…Kiran More, and deputy coaches Robin Singh, Shane Bond, and James Pamment make up a formidable group who already boast several accolades in the cricket world. Most notably, former England captain Heather Knight Edwards holds a place on the coaching staff, having recently taken teams all the way to the finals of The Hundred and Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL). Edwards also stands out because very few people possess such extensive experience in T20 tournaments. Her expertise gives MI a distinct advantage over other teams as they prepare to compete in yet another exciting season.
