Fulmali’s 25-ball 61 goes in vain as MI defeat GG in WPL 2025
The 19th match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025, played between Gujarat Giants (GG) and Mumbai Indians (MI), saw a thrilling contest that went down to the wire. However, in the end, it was MI’s clinical performance with the bat and ball that helped them emerge victorious by nine runs.
MI, led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, won the toss and elected to bat first. The Indian national team captain played a crucial role in her team’s innings, scoring a 33-ball 54 to help MI post a competitive total of 179-6 in their 20 overs. Harmanpreet’s knock was studded with six fours and two sixes, and she shared a crucial 44-run stand with Nat Sciver-Brunt to propel MI’s innings.
GG’s bowlers struggled to contain the MI batswomen, with only off-spinner Sneh Rana managing to pick up two wickets. However, the Gujarat Giants’ bowlers did manage to pick up wickets at regular intervals, with the exception of Harmanpreet’s knock. MI’s innings was marked by a few big overs, particularly the 14th, which yielded 23 runs, and the 17th, which fetched 17 runs.
In response, GG got off to a flying start, with Bharti Fulmali and Sabbhineni Meghana combining for a 54-run stand in the first five overs. Fulmali, in particular, was in scintillating form, scoring a 25-ball 61 that included 10 fours and two sixes. The Gujarat Giants’ opener played with a lot of flair, smashing the MI bowlers to all parts of the ground.
However, just when it seemed like GG were cruising towards the target, MI’s bowlers staged a remarkable comeback. Harmanpreet Kaur, who had been economical with the ball earlier, picked up two wickets in the 12th over to reduce GG to 94-4. The pressure was then built up by MI’s spinners, who did a great job of containing the GG batswomen.
In the end, GG were bowled out for 170 in their 20 overs, nine runs short of MI’s total. The Gujarat Giants’ innings was marked by a few late-order wickets, but ultimately, it was Fulmali’s valiant effort that went in vain.
With this win, MI have moved to second on the points table, while GG slipped to third. It was a crucial win for MI, who have now won three of their five matches in the WPL 2025. GG, on the other hand, have won two of their five matches and will need to bounce back strongly in their remaining matches.
In the end, it was MI’s all-round performance that proved to be the difference between the two teams. Harmanpreet Kaur’s 54 and Nat Sciver-Brunt’s 34 were crucial contributions with the bat, while Harmanpreet and Pooja Vastrakar picked up two wickets each to restrict GG to a manageable total.
For GG, Fulmali’s 61 was a rare highlight in an otherwise disappointing innings. The Gujarat Giants’ bowlers struggled to contain the MI batswomen, and ultimately, it cost them the match.
The result of this match has sent a clear message to the other teams in the WPL 2025: MI are a force to be reckoned with, and they will not go down without a fight. As for GG, they will need to regroup and come back stronger in their remaining matches if they are to make a deep run in the tournament.
