WPL 2023: Today I know what it feels like to win – Harmanpreet Kaur after leading Mumbai Indians Women in glory in inaugural season

Mumbai Indians Women captain Harmanpreet Kaur was delighted after they won the Women’s Premier League final against Delhi Capitals by seven wickets at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai on Sunday. MIW was able to restrict DCW at 131-9 after Meg Lanning won the toss and decided to bat first.

DCW were cruising at 73-3 at one stage before they lost their next six wickets for six runs and found themselves tottering at 79-9. However, Radha Yadav and Shikha Pandey added 52 runs off just 24 balls to help them get past the 130-run mark.

Pandey scored 17-ball 27 whereas Yadav smashed a fine cameo of 12-ball 27. In the run-chase, the home team lost two early wickets and then the required run rate kept increasing as Nat Sciver-Brunt got off to a slow start.

Harmanpreet Kaur scored 37 runs from 39 balls before she was run out but a settled Nat Sciver-Brunt helped MIW chase down the target as she scored 60 runs from 55 balls.

Harmanpreet Kaur said in the post-match presentation, “Great experience, we were waiting for so many years. Everyone enjoyed this throughout the dressing room. It feels like a dream, for everyone here. So many people were asking when WPL will come and that day is here, and we are so happy and proud. I think having a long batting line-up, we had to go there and express. Very happy with how everyone performed. I think staying positive is key, we were lucky with full tosses going in our favour. This is a special moment for all of us, I have been waiting a long time and today I know what it feels like to be winning (laughs). Great experience and waiting for next year. (On coaches) We keep talking about being positive, and we executed our plans really well and that’s the reason I’m standing here today.”

Nat Sciver-Brunt was awarded the Player of the Match for her fine knock in the run-chase.

She said after the win, “It was very special. Glad I was able to stick it out when the pressure was on. I was trying to get quite tough and Harman and Melie took the pressure off me. I knew if I stayed till the end we’d get through. We gave away too many in the final 3-4 overs, but it made the game interesting. (Winning the trophy) It means everything, coming together with a special group of girls with the Mumbai Indians, a really special moment.”