Mumbai Indians Women have become one of the defining teams in the short history of the Women’s Premier League. From lifting the inaugural trophy in 2023 to winning their second championship in 2025, the franchise has established a strong competitive identity built around experienced leadership, international stars, emerging Indian talent and an ability to perform under pressure. Although Mumbai Indians did not retain the title in 2024 or reach the final in 2026, their WPL journey remains one of the league’s most successful stories.
The team entered the WPL in 2023 with considerable expectations because the Mumbai Indians brand already had a long association with success in T20 cricket. The women’s team quickly created its own identity, however, combining the leadership of Harmanpreet Kaur with the international quality of players such as Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Matthews and Amelia Kerr. That combination helped Mumbai become the first WPL champions and established the foundation for everything that followed.
The Beginning of Mumbai Indians Women in the WPL
The inaugural WPL season in 2023 was a landmark moment for women’s cricket in India. Mumbai Indians were among the five original franchises and entered the competition with a squad containing several players who had already achieved international recognition.
Harmanpreet Kaur was appointed captain, while Charlotte Edwards took charge as head coach and Jhulan Goswami became part of the coaching and mentoring setup. The combination of experienced leadership and elite international players gave Mumbai a strong foundation from the beginning.
Hayley Matthews was particularly influential throughout the tournament. She finished the season with 16 wickets and also contributed heavily with the bat, eventually winning the Purple Cap and the Most Valuable Player award. Nat Sciver-Brunt was another central performer, finishing the campaign with 332 runs.
Mumbai’s league-stage performances demonstrated that the team could adapt quickly to the demands of franchise cricket. But reaching the final was only the first step. The biggest challenge was handling the pressure of playing the first WPL championship match.
The Historic 2023 Final
Mumbai Indians faced Delhi Capitals in the inaugural WPL final at Brabourne Stadium. Delhi batted first but could manage only 131/9 in 20 overs.
Mumbai’s bowling attack played a major role in restricting the opposition. Hayley Matthews produced figures of 3/5, Issy Wong took 3/42 and Amelia Kerr contributed two wickets. Their combined performance prevented Delhi from establishing a large total.
The chase was not straightforward, however. Mumbai needed composure rather than uncontrolled aggression. Harmanpreet Kaur scored 37 from 39 deliveries before being run out, while Nat Sciver-Brunt remained at the crease and guided the chase.
Sciver-Brunt finished unbeaten on 60 from 55 balls, controlling the closing stages and ensuring Mumbai reached 134/3 in 19.3 overs. Mumbai Indians won the final by seven wickets and became the inaugural WPL champions.
The victory immediately gave Mumbai a special place in WPL history. They were not simply the first team to win the competition; they also established a template based on balanced team selection, experienced leadership and contributions from multiple players.
Building a Championship Culture
Winning the first WPL title created a new challenge. Mumbai Indians needed to demonstrate that their success was not limited to one exceptional tournament.
The franchise retained a core built around Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Matthews and Amelia Kerr. That continuity was important because the team already understood how its major players complemented one another.
Harmanpreet offered leadership and middle-order experience. Sciver-Brunt provided a combination of batting and bowling. Matthews could influence matches with both disciplines, while Kerr gave the team another high-quality all-round option.
This balance became an important feature of Mumbai’s identity. Rather than depending entirely on one specialist batter or bowler, the team could change the direction of a match through several different players.
The 2024 Setback
The 2024 WPL season showed that defending a championship could be considerably harder than winning the first title.
Mumbai Indians still had a strong campaign and finished second in the league stage with five victories from eight matches. Their position gave them a place in the Eliminator, where they faced Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
The match became one of the most dramatic finishes of the early WPL. Mumbai were involved in a tense chase and appeared to have a strong chance of progressing, but RCB held their nerve in the closing stages.
Mumbai’s campaign therefore ended before the final. The result was disappointing for the defending champions, but it also provided valuable information about the small margins separating the leading WPL teams.
The 2024 season showed that Mumbai could not rely on its 2023 formula alone. The team needed to continue developing its squad, strengthen its younger players and find additional ways to handle pressure situations.
Learning From the 2024 Experience
The franchise responded by continuing to invest in squad depth and young talent. Mumbai’s approach combined established international players with emerging Indian cricketers.
One of the most memorable examples came when Sajana Sajeevan produced a remarkable moment against Delhi in the 2024 season. Making her WPL debut, she arrived with Mumbai needing five runs from the final ball and struck a six from the first ball she faced to complete the chase.
Moments like this demonstrated why squad depth mattered. A championship team needs players who can enter the XI and contribute immediately when opportunities arise.
Mumbai continued developing that philosophy heading into 2025.
The Road to the 2025 Title
Mumbai Indians entered WPL 2025 determined to return to the final. The franchise described the campaign as an opportunity to recover from the disappointment of the 2024 Eliminator.
The squad included several familiar stars but also new additions such as Nadine de Klerk, G Kamalini, Sanskriti Gupta and Akshita Maheshwari. Pooja Vastrakar’s injury also resulted in Parunika Sisodia joining the squad.
The tournament ultimately became one of Mumbai’s strongest WPL campaigns.
The team reached the playoffs and faced Gujarat Giants in the Eliminator. Instead of allowing the pressure of the knockout stage to affect their performance, Mumbai produced an outstanding all-round display.
The 2025 Eliminator Masterclass
Mumbai Indians batted first against Gujarat Giants and posted 213/4, at that point the highest team total in a WPL playoff match.
Nat Sciver-Brunt and Hayley Matthews both scored 77, creating a powerful foundation for the innings. Harmanpreet Kaur then added 36 from only 12 deliveries, including four sixes, to push Mumbai beyond 200.
The bowling performance was equally effective. Matthews took 3/31, while Amelia Kerr claimed 2/28. Mumbai also produced three run-outs as Gujarat were dismissed for 166.
The 47-run victory sent Mumbai back into the WPL final for the second time in three seasons. It was also a statement that the team had learned from its 2024 disappointment.
The 2025 Final Against Delhi Capitals
The final provided a rematch of the inaugural WPL championship match. Mumbai Indians once again faced Delhi Capitals, but this time the contest was considerably closer.
Mumbai posted 149/7. Harmanpreet Kaur played an important innings under pressure, scoring 66 and anchoring the batting effort.
Delhi’s chase developed into a tense contest. Mumbai’s bowlers continued to apply pressure, with Nat Sciver-Brunt producing an important spell and the team holding its nerve during the closing overs.
Delhi eventually finished on 141/9, leaving Mumbai Indians with an eight-run victory and their second WPL championship. Mumbai had successfully transformed a disappointing 2024 campaign into another title-winning season.
The victory also made Mumbai the first team to win the WPL twice.
The Players Behind the Second Championship
The 2025 championship was not built around one individual. Nat Sciver-Brunt was named Orange Cap winner and Most Valuable Player after scoring 523 runs, while Amelia Kerr won the Purple Cap with 18 wickets. Amanjot Kaur was recognized as the Emerging Player of the Season.
This distribution of awards reflected Mumbai’s overall team structure.
Sciver-Brunt provided consistency with the bat and useful bowling options. Kerr offered control and wicket-taking ability. Harmanpreet remained the central leadership figure, while Matthews continued to provide match-changing contributions.
The emergence of younger players also strengthened Mumbai’s long-term prospects. The team was no longer simply a collection of established international names. It was developing a wider group of players capable of contributing at different stages.
Harmanpreet Kaur and Mumbai’s Leadership
Harmanpreet Kaur has been closely connected with Mumbai Indians Women’s WPL journey from the beginning.
Her leadership was especially important during the 2023 final, when she helped manage a difficult chase against Delhi. In 2025, she again played a crucial role during the championship campaign.
Her batting also remained an important part of Mumbai’s strategy. In the 2026 season, Harmanpreet produced another memorable performance against Gujarat Giants, scoring an unbeaten 71 from 43 balls while guiding Mumbai to their highest successful run chase in WPL history at that point.
That innings also took her to 10 WPL fifty-plus scores, the most by any player in the tournament’s history at the time.
Her continued presence gives Mumbai an experienced player who understands the franchise’s history and the pressures associated with high-stakes WPL matches.
Mumbai Indians in the 2026 Season
The 2026 season brought another chapter to Mumbai’s WPL story. The team entered the campaign as defending champions, but the competition had become increasingly balanced.
Mumbai still demonstrated their ability to produce major performances. Against Gujarat Giants, the opposition posted 192/5, but Harmanpreet led the chase with an unbeaten 71. Amanjot Kaur contributed 40, while Nicola Carey played an important finishing role. Mumbai reached the target with four balls remaining.
The result showed that Mumbai’s championship qualities had not disappeared after the 2025 triumph.
However, the 2026 season did not end with another final appearance. Royal Challengers Bengaluru ultimately won the tournament by defeating Delhi Capitals in the final, becoming the second team after Mumbai to win two WPL titles.
Mumbai therefore remain tied with RCB on two championships after four completed WPL seasons.
A Journey Built on Adaptation
One of the most interesting aspects of Mumbai Indians Women’s WPL journey has been their ability to evolve.
The 2023 champions relied heavily on the brilliance of Matthews, Sciver-Brunt, Kerr and Harmanpreet. By 2025, the team had expanded its depth and incorporated younger players while retaining its experienced core.
That evolution matters because WPL squads cannot remain static. Opponents learn from successful teams, auction strategies change and new players emerge every season.
Mumbai’s ability to refresh their squad while protecting important combinations has helped them remain competitive across the league’s first four seasons.
The Mumbai Indians Model
Mumbai’s WPL success has also been connected with its broader franchise structure. The organization already had experience creating high-performance environments in T20 cricket, but the women’s team developed its own coaching and player-development framework.
The involvement of experienced figures such as Charlotte Edwards and Jhulan Goswami during the early years helped establish professional standards around preparation and tactical development.
The team also benefited from international players working alongside Indian cricketers. This created opportunities for knowledge exchange involving batting techniques, bowling plans, fitness, match preparation and pressure management.
As the WPL has developed, that type of environment has become increasingly important.
What Mumbai’s Two Titles Represent
Mumbai Indians Women’s two championships tell two different stories.
The 2023 title was about making history. The team entered the first WPL season and immediately won the competition, becoming the inaugural champions.
The 2025 title was about responding to adversity. After missing the final in 2024, Mumbai returned with a stronger campaign and defeated Gujarat in the Eliminator before overcoming Delhi in the championship match.
Together, the two victories demonstrate how the franchise has approached the WPL. The first established the team, while the second confirmed its ability to rebuild and compete again.
Looking Ahead
Mumbai Indians enter the next phase of their WPL journey with two championship trophies and considerable experience across four seasons.
The competition, however, is becoming increasingly difficult. RCB won the 2024 and 2026 titles, while Delhi Capitals reached all four finals from 2023 through 2026. Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz have also continued rebuilding their squads and developing new players.
Mumbai therefore cannot depend solely on its previous achievements.
The future will require continued investment in emerging Indian talent, careful auction decisions, tactical flexibility and the ability to maintain a strong core while introducing new players.
The franchise’s history suggests that adaptation will remain central to its approach.
Mumbai Indians Women’s WPL title journey is a story of fast success, disappointment, recovery and continued evolution. They became the inaugural champions in 2023 after defeating Delhi Capitals, experienced a playoff exit in 2024 and then returned to win their second championship in 2025.
Their success has been driven by a combination of Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership, world-class international players, developing Indian talent and a strong team structure. The 2025 championship particularly highlighted the value of that balance, with Sciver-Brunt winning the Orange Cap and MVP award and Amelia Kerr taking the Purple Cap.
Although Mumbai did not add a third trophy in 2026, their two titles remain a major part of the WPL’s early history. The franchise has shown that championship teams must continually adapt, and its journey from 2023 to 2026 provides a clear example of how women’s franchise cricket has rapidly evolved.
With two WPL titles already secured, Mumbai Indians Women have established a significant foundation. The next stage of their story will be about how effectively they can combine that experience with the next generation of players and continue competing in an increasingly demanding league.
read more- Every WPL Final Explained From 2023 to 2026
