Harmanpreet Kaur eyes 2nd WPL title with Mumbai Indians
What's the story
Mumbai Indians Women captain Harmanpreet Kaur expressed optimism about clinching a second Women's Premier League (WPL) title in the upcoming season. The third edition of the T20 tournament begins on February 14 at the newly built BCA Stadium in Baroda. The tournament's opening match will witness Gujarat Giants face defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Here's more.
Past performance
Mumbai Indians's journey in the previous season
In the last season, the inaugural WPL champions, finished second in the standings. Despite being in a strong position to defend their title, two consecutive losses in the playoffs kept them from reaching the final. "The tournament is very important for us. Everyone is practicing well", Kaur told ANI with hopes to reclaim the title this year.
Anticipation
Kaur acknowledges tough competition in upcoming season
Kaur also acknowledged the tough competition ahead, noting that all teams have found their balance. She said, "I think this season we will see exciting games, and there won't be any easy games for us." Despite the challenges, she remains confident about her team's preparation and is looking forward to an exciting season.
Impact
WPL: A platform for women cricketers to improve
Kaur also praised the WPL for giving women cricketers a platform to hone their skills. She said, "Since the arrival of WPL, women's cricket has been improving because before, hardly 15 to 20 women cricketers got the chance to play top-level cricket. But now there are a lot of young players who get to play with and against international cricketers." The tournament is set to be held across four cities - Baroda, Bengaluru, Lucknow and Mumbai.
Team composition
Mumbai Indians retain strong core for WPL
Mumbai Indians have retained a formidable core for their title pursuit, including Kaur, West Indies' Hayley Matthews, England's Nat Sciver-Brunt, and New Zealand's Amelia Kerr. Additionally, the squad also boasts talents like Amandeep Kaur, Amanjot Kaur, and South Africa's Chloe Tryon, among others. Meanwhile, four more players were added during the mini-auction to complete the 18-member squad.
Stats
The skipper's WPL stats and captaincy record
Kaur has featured in 17 WPL matches and has smashed 549 runs at an average of 45.75. Additionally, she boasts a strike rate of 137.94 alongside her three fifties in two seasons. Her highest score is 95*, which she smashed against the Gujarat Giants. Meanwhile, she owns a 12-5 win-loss record as a captain, including two consecutive playoff appearances and one final appearance and a win.
Squad
MI's complete 18-member squad
Squad: Amanjot Kaur, Amelia Kerr, Chloe Tryon, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Hayley Matthews, G Kamalini (wk), Jintimani Kalita, Natalie Sciver, Akshita Maheshwari, Pooja Vastrakar, Saika Ishaque, Yastika Bhatia, Shabnim Ismail, Amandeep Kaur, S. Sajana, Keerthana, Nadine de Klerk, Sanskriti Gupta.