WPL Final: Refreshed Delhi Capitals or on-song Mumbai Indians? Lead-up to title clash adds to intrigue

The lead-up to the final has made for a fascinating contrast. DC played their last league match on March 7 in Lucknow. Their previous match was on March 1 in Bengaluru. In the hectic world of a franchise cricket league, playing 2 matches in the space of 14 days is not very common. Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, have played more matches this week than DC have this month: they had matches on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and are playing the final on Saturday. It is bound to be exhausting but they’d be aware of the conditions much better than DC. In their case, familiarity might not necessarily breed contempt.

Both captains expectedly put a favourable spin on it. “I see it in a positive way,” Harmanpreet said. “We know what area to bowl, how to bat, and how to execute (our skills) in a better way, which overs to take care of without losing too many wickets.

“We have got lots of energy within the group,” Lanning said, almost using the exact words that vice-captain Jemimah Rodrigues had done in a media interaction a day earlier, indicating clearly it’s something that has been discussed internally. “We have trained out here as well and a lot of players have played here before so that is certainly not an issue for us. We had a busy period earlier in the tournament. So, it’s been nice to be able to refresh ourselves.”

1. 01
   

   Why Delhi could win

   – Most consistent team in WPL across 3 seasons, led by an inspirational captain

   – Best opening pair in WPL history in Shafali-Lanning, and all-round bowling attack

2. 02
   

   Why Mumbai could win

   – Home advantage, and familiarity with conditions, having already played thrice this week at Brabourne

   – World-class overseas allrounders in Matthews and Sciver-Brunt; with Harmanpreet also in good form

Of course, the final will come down to the actual execution of cricketing skills, that much both the captains agreed upon. Winning the toss and chasing had been the success mantra in the first three legs of the tournament, but that has changed in Mumbai too as teams have managed to post winning totals after being asked to bat first. That somewhat takes the toss out of the equation and makes it a bit more even.

Both teams possess outright match-winners with the bat. No batting pair in the history of WPL has been more prolific than Lanning and Shafali Verma, and they’ll hold the key once more. The Indian opener, who has almost certainly done enough to be back in the national scheme of things after being dropped, has been in solid form. If the two can provide the start they are capable of, DC’s chances shoot up. In the past two finals, it’s the batting that let them down primarily.

MI are blessed with three of the best all-rounders in the women’s game right now and two of them have been in stellar form. Hayley Matthews and Nat Sciver-Brunt (playing the best tournament of her career even by her high standards) put Gujarat Giants to the sword in the Eliminator. And with Harmanpreet striking the ball well too, their main batters are in prime form. Both teams, however, will have concerns about the middle order, and that’s where the match could be decided, given the bowling units are also fairly well-matched.

Lanning wouldn’t leave much to chance but DC would be hoping it is third-time lucky for them in this league’s brief history.