In a stunning display of resilience and skill, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Mumbai Indians (MI) by 11 runs in the final league match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 at Brabourne Stadium on Tuesday. Despite being already eliminated from playoff contention, RCB’s comprehensive performance not only salvaged pride but also denied MI a direct path to the final, forcing them into an eliminator match against Gujarat Giants. The result helped table-toppers Delhi Capitals secure a direct berth in the final, marking their third consecutive appearance in the championship match.
A Batting Masterclass from RCB
After Mumbai Indians won the toss and elected to field first, Royal Challengers Bengaluru came out with a fearless approach, perfectly embodying their “play bold” philosophy in their final outing of the season. The opening pair of Smriti Mandhana and Sabbhineni Meghana set an aggressive tone right from the start, targeting MI’s premier bowlers without hesitation. Meghana, in particular, showed remarkable intent by clubbing Nat Sciver-Brunt for two boundaries in the second over before launching a blistering attack against Hayley Matthews with a sequence of 4, 6, and 4 in quick succession. Though her promising innings was cut short at 26 off just 13 balls, she had already provided the momentum RCB needed to build a substantial total.
Captain Smriti Mandhana, who had experienced an inconsistent season by her standards, found her rhythm at last and played a captain’s knock when it mattered. She rotated the strike intelligently while punishing the loose deliveries, particularly against Amelia Kerr, whom she swept for six and then flicked for four in a 22-run over that accelerated RCB’s progress. Mandhana reached her half-century off 35 balls, providing stability and aggression in equal measure before eventually departing for 53, having laid a solid foundation for her team. Her innings was especially important as she later mentioned at the presentation that her inability to convert starts had been “eating her up” throughout the season.
Ellyse Perry played the perfect anchor role, weathering some early challenges to finish with an unbeaten 49 off 38 deliveries. What made Perry’s innings even more remarkable was her ability to capitalize on the multiple chances offered by the Mumbai fielders, who dropped her three times during her stay at the crease. Perry’s experience shone through as she formed crucial partnerships of 53 runs with Richa Ghosh and an unbroken 46 with Georgia Wareham, ensuring RCB maintained their momentum throughout the innings. Her ability to find gaps consistently and accelerate when needed demonstrated why she remains one of the most complete batters in women’s cricket.
MI’s Fielding Woes Prove Costly
Mumbai Indians’ typically clinical approach in the field was notably absent, with their fielders putting down several crucial catches that would prove extremely costly in the final analysis. Amelia Kerr missed a caught-and-bowled opportunity when Perry was on just 16, while Sanskriti Gupta dropped a straightforward chance off Mandhana at midwicket1. Perhaps the most glaring error came when the usually reliable Sciver-Brunt put down what commentators described as a “dolly” at deep midwicket after being distracted by the spidercam, one of several fielding lapses that allowed RCB to push their total to imposing heights.
These fielding errors were uncharacteristic of a Mumbai side that has built their reputation on excellence in all departments of the game. The missed opportunities not only allowed RCB’s batters to extend their innings but also seemed to affect the bowlers’ confidence as the match progressed. MI’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur appeared increasingly frustrated as the innings wore on, with her field placements and bowling changes unable to stem the flow of runs against a determined RCB batting lineup. The shoddy fielding display ultimately undermined what had otherwise been a strong season for the defending champions and first-season winners of the WPL.
Late Fireworks Propel RCB to Imposing Total
The final overs of RCB’s innings featured some of the most explosive batting of the tournament, with Richa Ghosh and Georgia Wareham providing the perfect finishing touches. Ghosh, who has established herself as one of India’s most promising young wicketkeeper-batters, played with remarkable freedom during her 36 off 22 balls, tearing into the experienced Shabnim Ismail with a reverse scoop for four followed by a mighty straight six. Her innovative shot-making and fearless approach perfectly complemented Perry’s more measured presence at the other end, giving RCB crucial momentum heading into the final overs.
Georgia Wareham’s cameo was nothing short of spectacular, as she smashed an unbeaten 31 off just 10 deliveries, including five boundaries and a six. Her onslaught in the final over against Amelia Kerr, featuring sweep and reverse-sweep shots that yielded 4, 2, 4, and 6, propelled RCB to 199 for 3. This blistering finish saw RCB collect 65 runs from the final four overs, turning what might have been a competitive total into an imposing one that would ultimately prove beyond Mumbai’s reach. Wareham’s strike rate of 310 exemplified the fearless batting approach that has become RCB’s trademark in women’s cricket.
Sciver-Brunt’s Valiant Effort in Vain
Mumbai Indians’ chase began on a challenging note as their opening woes continued, with Amelia Kerr failing to provide a solid start alongside Hayley Matthews. Though Matthews showed glimpses of her destructive potential with some spectacular hits, their partnership couldn’t gather significant momentum before Sneh Rana struck in consecutive overs to remove both openers. These early setbacks left Mumbai at 45 for 2 after the powerplay, already behind the required rate and facing an uphill battle against a spirited RCB bowling attack.
The situation worsened when captain Harmanpreet Kaur, after surviving an lbw appeal and striking a couple of confident boundaries, fell to the wily Kim Garth, who foxed her with a back-of-the-hand legcutter that drew an edge. At 78 for 3 in the 11th over, Mumbai’s hopes rested primarily on the shoulders of their star all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt, who responded with a breathtaking counter-attack that briefly threatened to snatch victory from RCB’s grasp. Sciver-Brunt’s 69 off just 35 balls featured intelligent batting where she often shuffled to the off stump to target the shorter boundary, punishing anything loose with crisp timing and powerful strikes.
For as long as Sciver-Brunt remained at the crease, Mumbai remained in contention, but her dismissal in the 15th over—caught off Perry’s bowling—proved to be the decisive moment in the match1. With 71 runs needed from 31 balls and no established batters remaining, the task became increasingly difficult for Mumbai’s lower order. Despite a spirited cameo from S Sajana, who hammered two consecutive sixes off Perry in the penultimate over to briefly revive Mumbai’s hopes, RCB’s bowlers held their nerve to secure an 11-run victory that ended their campaign on a positive note.
Rana Stars as RCB’s Bowling Savior
Sneh Rana emerged as the standout performer with the ball for RCB, claiming impressive figures of 3 for 26 in her four overs1. Her control and variations proved difficult for Mumbai’s batters to negotiate, as she removed both openers in consecutive overs before returning to claim another crucial wicket. For her match-winning performance, Rana was deservedly named Player of the Match, and in her post-match comments, she credited captain Mandhana for using her bowlers effectively throughout the innings.
The Indian all-rounder’s performance was complemented by timely contributions from the rest of RCB’s bowling unit. Kim Garth showed her experience by removing the dangerous Harmanpreet with a cleverly disguised slower delivery, while Ellyse Perry delivered when it mattered most by dismissing the in-form Sciver-Brunt at a critical juncture. Though Perry proved expensive overall, conceding 53 runs in her four overs, her two wickets—particularly the caught-and-bowled dismissal of Sciver-Brunt—played a pivotal role in securing RCB’s victory.
Playoff Picture Takes Final Shape
This result had significant implications for the WPL 2025 playoff scenario. Despite being already eliminated, RCB’s victory ensured they avoided the wooden spoon and finished their season with a sense of accomplishment. For Mumbai Indians, however, the defeat meant they missed the opportunity to top the table and secure direct qualification to the final. Instead, Delhi Capitals, who had the same number of points (10) but a superior net run rate, claimed the top spot and the direct path to the championship match.
Mumbai Indians will now face Gujarat Giants in the eliminator on March 13 at the same venue, with the winner advancing to face Delhi Capitals in the final on March 15. This marks the third consecutive season where Mumbai has finished second in the league stage behind Delhi Capitals. For Delhi, this represents their third straight appearance in the final, where they will be hoping to finally lift the trophy after falling short in the previous two seasons.
Reflections on a Season of Contrasts
The match perfectly encapsulated the contrasting fortunes of these two teams throughout WPL 2025. For RCB, the defending champions from 2024, this season has been a disappointing one marked by five consecutive losses after a promising start with two wins6. As captain Mandhana explained in her post-match comments, the loss of “five or six playing XI players” had a significant impact on their campaign, highlighting how injuries can derail even the most talented squads.
For Mumbai Indians, despite this setback, their overall season has been positive with five wins from eight matches. Their consistent performances throughout the tournament have once again established them as one of the powerhouses of women’s franchise cricket. However, this defeat—their first at Brabourne Stadium in six games—exposed some vulnerabilities that they will need to address before the eliminator1. In particular, their fielding performance and the over-reliance on key batters like Sciver-Brunt will be areas of concern for coach Charlotte Edwards and captain Harmanpreet Kaur.
As the Women’s Premier League moves into its playoff phase, this match serves as a reminder of the competitive nature of the tournament, where even eliminated teams can produce performances capable of upsetting the established order. Royal Challengers Bengaluru will watch from the sidelines, but they have shown that with their core of international stars and emerging Indian talent, they remain a force to be reckoned with in women’s franchise cricket. Mumbai Indians, meanwhile, must quickly regroup as they prepare for their eliminator showdown with Gujarat Giants, knowing that another performance like this could bring their campaign to a premature end.
Citations:
- https://www.espn.com.au/cricket/series/21282/report/1469317/mumbai-indians-women-vs-royal-challengers-bengaluru-women-20th-match-wpl
- https://www.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/wpl-2025-mi-vs-rcb-dream11-prediction-wpl-fantasy-dream11-team-today-mumbai-indians-vs-royal-challengers-bangalore-playing-xi-pitch-report-for-wpl-match-20-654354.html/mumbai-indians-vs-royal-challengers-bengaluru-live-score-mi-vs-rcb-wpl-2025-match-today-live-blog-201741698080963.html
