MI make it 8–0 against Gujarat Giants with Harmanpreet’s match-winning knock

Gujarat Giants’ struggles against Mumbai Indians continued as the two-time champions sealed a commanding seven-wicket win in Match 6 of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai, on Tuesday.

The victory stretched Mumbai Indians’ perfect record against the Giants to 8–0 and marked their highest successful run chase in WPL history, also the second-highest overall in the league. The result brought Gujarat’s unbeaten run this season to an abrupt halt, once again highlighting MI’s dominance in this one-sided rivalry.

As she has so often done against Gujarat, Harmanpreet Kaur led from the front. The MI skipper produced another match-winning knock, remaining unbeaten on 71 off 43 balls, striking seven fours and two sixes to chase down a daunting target of 193 with four balls to spare. Calm under pressure and clinical in execution, Harmanpreet ensured the required run rate never slipped out of Mumbai’s grasp.

The innings further strengthened Harmanpreet’s extraordinary record against the Giants. She has now scored 422 runs against Gujarat at an average of 84.4, with her highest score being an unbeaten 95 during the 2024 season — numbers that underline her consistent dominance over their bowling attack.

Earlier, Gujarat Giants were put in to bat and endured a shaky start as Sophie Devine departed for eight in the third over. Gunalan Kamalini dropped Beth Mooney on a duck in the opening over but soon redeemed herself by taking Devine’s catch off Shabnim Ismail. Mooney made the most of the reprieve, scoring a brisk 33 off 26 balls before Amelia Kerr brought her innings to an end.

Ashleigh Gardner and Kanika Ahuja then injected momentum with an aggressive stand. Gardner smashed 20 off 11 balls, while Kanika added a quick 35 off 18, but Mumbai struck back with regular wickets to stall Gujarat’s charge. The Giants endured a sluggish five-over phase, managing just a run a ball after the duo’s departure.

On WPL debut, Ayushi Soni, brought in for the injured Anushka Sharma, struggled for fluency and made 11 off 14 balls before becoming the first player in WPL history to be retired out. The move proved crucial as Bharti Fulmali provided the late impetus Gujarat needed. Fulmali blasted an unbeaten 36 off 15 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes, while Georgia Wareham anchored the innings with an unbeaten 43 off 33 balls, guiding the Giants to a competitive 192 for five.

Mumbai began their chase positively, with Kamalini striking a couple of early boundaries before Renuka Singh Thakur dismissed her for 13. MI promoted Amanjot Kaur to No. 3, a decision that paid off handsomely. Amanjot added a crucial 72-run partnership with Harmanpreet, scoring 40 off 26 balls with seven fours and keeping the chase firmly on track before Devine broke the stand.

With 59 required from the final five overs, Nicola Carey joined Harmanpreet and swung the momentum decisively. Carey hammered four boundaries off Renuka in the 16th over, which went for 20 runs and tilted the game in MI’s favour. Harmanpreet reached another milestone in the 18th over, becoming only the second batter after Nat Sciver-Brunt to score 1,000 WPL runs. Rajeshwari Gayakwad conceded 16 in that over, leaving MI needing just 14 from 12 balls.

Gujarat’s night worsened with a costly dropped catch of Harmanpreet when seven were needed off seven. The MI skipper made no mistake thereafter, finishing the chase in the final over. Carey’s composed 38 off 23 balls complemented Harmanpreet’s brilliance as Mumbai Indians pulled off another statement win.

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