Delhi Capitals (DC) have earned a direct spot in the Women’s Premier League 2025 final after Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Mumbai Indians (MI) by 11 runs on Tuesday at the Brabourne Stadium.
Since RCB successfully defended a massive 199-run target, MI fell short in their chase. As a result, DC remained at the top of the standings and advanced directly to the final for the third consecutive season.
Meanwhile, MI finished second and will now face Gujarat Giants in the playoffs on Thursday at the same venue. They will compete for a place in the final for the second time.
Mumbai Indians Struggle in the Chase
At the start of the chase, Mumbai Indians needed 200 runs, but the task was always going to be challenging. Their openers, Hayley Matthews and Amelia Kerr, got off to a quick start, scoring 27 runs in just 3.2 overs.
However, RCB captain Smriti Mandhana made a strategic decision. She introduced off-spinner Sneh Rana early, and it paid off immediately. Rana dismissed Matthews for 19 off 16 balls, slowing down MI’s momentum.
Soon after, Nat Sciver-Brunt launched a counterattack, hitting two consecutive boundaries. Just as MI looked dangerous again, Rana struck once more, trapping Kerr for only 9 runs.
Despite the falling wickets, Brunt continued to play aggressively. She kept attacking while her teammates struggled. In the 14th over, she reached her fourth fifty of the season.
Unfortunately, her innings ended when she misjudged a slower ball from Ellyse Perry. She returned a simple catch to the bowler after scoring a blistering 69 off just 35 balls.
To make matters worse for MI, Rana dismissed Yastika Bhatia for just 4 runs. As the required run rate kept rising, MI struggled to keep up. In the end, RCB snapped their losing streak and ended their season on a high note.
RCB’s Strong Batting Performance
Earlier in the match, MI won the toss and chose to bowl first. RCB openers Sabbhineni Meghana and Smriti Mandhana started aggressively, adding 41 runs in just 3.3 overs.
Although Meghana fell for 26, Mandhana carried on with Ellyse Perry at the other end. She reached her half-century but got out soon after.
After that, Perry took charge of the innings. She received valuable support from Richa Ghosh (36) and Georgia Wareham (31*). Their quick contributions helped RCB post an imposing total of 199/3, which ultimately proved too difficult for MI to chase.
