February 6, 2025: The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 season is set to kick off on February 14 with high hopes and fierce competition, and Mumbai Indians, led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, are determined to claim the title for the second time. The tournament will be held across four cities – Baroda, Bengaluru, Lucknow, and Mumbai – offering a thrilling mix of locations and matchups for fans to enjoy.
The season will begin with a high-octane clash between Gujarat Giants and defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the newly built BCA Stadium in Baroda. This promises to be a dramatic start to what is expected to be an intense and closely contested season, with each team bringing its best to the field.
Mumbai Indians, who finished as runners-up in the previous season, are eager to regain the trophy they won in the inaugural WPL season. The team’s journey to the final last year was disrupted by back-to-back defeats in the playoffs, but Harmanpreet remains optimistic for the upcoming season. Speaking to ANI, she expressed her excitement: “The tournament is very important for us. Everyone is practising well. The camp is going well, and we are very excited for this season. Hopefully, we will win the trophy again.”
However, Harmanpreet is well aware that the competition will be tougher than ever. “All teams appear to be balanced. I think this season we will see exciting games, and there won’t be any easy games for us,” she noted, acknowledging the strength of the other teams.
One of the key highlights of the WPL is its role in the development and growth of women’s cricket. Since its inception, the tournament has provided a vital platform for women cricketers, helping them hone their skills while playing alongside and against international stars. Harmanpreet spoke passionately about the significance of the WPL, particularly for younger players: “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. I think the WPL platform is helping a lot of players, especially the young cricketers.”
This focus on nurturing young talent has made the WPL an essential part of women’s cricket in India and beyond, as it bridges the gap between domestic and international cricket.
In the upcoming season, Baroda will host six matches, with Bengaluru taking over for a key home game for RCB against Mumbai Indians on February 21 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The tournament will then move to Mumbai, where the final leg of the season will unfold. The Cricket Club of India (CCI) will host the final two league matches, as well as the all-important Playoff games. Mumbai Indians will conclude the league stage with back-to-back home games against Gujarat Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru on March 10 and 11, respectively.
Mumbai Indians have retained a formidable core for the season, which includes Harmanpreet Kaur, West Indies’ Hayley Matthews, England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt, and New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr. The team also kept hold of key players like Amandeep Kaur, Amanjot Kaur, South Africa’s Chloe Tryon, Pooja Vastrakar, and the experienced Shabnim Ismail. Additionally, new signings at the mini-auction have strengthened the squad, with the addition of South African all-rounder Nadine de Klerk, Madhya Pradesh’s Sanskriti Gupta, and Rajasthan pacer Akshita Maheshwari.
Full Squad for Mumbai Indians in WPL 2025:
- Captain: Harmanpreet Kaur
- Amandeep Kaur
- Amanjot Kaur
- Amelia Kerr
- Chloe Tryon
- Hayley Matthews
- Jintimani Kalita
- Keerthana Balakrishnan
- Natalie Sciver-Brunt
- Pooja Vastrakar
- Saika Ishaque
- Sajana S.
- Shabnim Ismail
- Yastika Bhatia
- Nadine de Klerk
- G Kamalini
- Sanskriti Gupta
- Akshita Maheshwari
With a balanced squad, a strong leadership team, and the invaluable experience gained from past seasons, Mumbai Indians are ready to battle it out for another title in the highly competitive WPL 2025 season.
The excitement is building as the tournament approaches, and with teams like Mumbai Indians bringing their A-game, this season promises to deliver some unforgettable cricket moments. Will Harmanpreet Kaur and her team reclaim their title, or will another team rise to the occasion? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain—the WPL 2025 is set to be a thrilling ride from start to finish.