Mumbai Indians kicked off the Women’s Premier League 2026 with a statement. They crushed Delhi Capitals by 50 runs at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on January 10. Harmanpreet Kaur led the charge, staying unbeaten on 74 from just 42 balls. Nat Sciver-Brunt didn’t hold back either; she hammered 70 and helped push MI to a hefty 195 for 4.
When it was Delhi’s turn to bat, things fell apart fast. Amelia Kerr and Nicola Carey tore through their lineup, grabbing six wickets between them and holding DC to just 145. Chinelle Henry tried to keep Delhi in the fight with a bold 56 from 33 balls, but honestly, the damage was already done. Delhi’s batters crumbled early, losing four wickets for only 35 runs in the powerplay. Mumbai’s all-round game left no doubt; they walked away with their first win of the tournament.
Match Summary: MI vs DC
Here is the complete match summary of this one-sided encounter:
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Mumbai Indians Women Score | 195/4 (20 overs) |
| Delhi Capitals Women Score | 145/10 (19 overs) |
| Match Result | MI won by 50 runs |
| Best Batting (MI) | Harmanpreet Kaur – 74* off 42 balls (8 fours, 3 sixes) |
| Best Batting (DC) | Chinelle Henry – 56 off 33 balls (5 fours, 3 sixes) |
| Best Bowling (MI) | Amelia Kerr – 3/24 in 4 overs (Econ: 6.00) |
| Best Bowling (DC) | Nandani Sharma – 2/26 in 3 overs (Econ: 8.66) |
| Player of the Match | Harmanpreet Kaur (MI) |
Mumbai Indians Innings: 195/4 in 20 Overs
MI didn’t get off to the best start; Amelia Kerr fell for a duck in the very first over, Chinelle Henry grabbing her wicket. Gunalan Kamalini tried to settle things down, picked up 16 runs from 19 balls, and hit three boundaries, but then Nandani Sharma got her caught behind.
After the powerplay, MI stood at 43 for 1. That’s when things started to heat up. Nat Sciver-Brunt grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, hammering 13 fours as she raced to 70 from 46 balls. She brought up her fifty in just 32 balls, smashing 10 boundaries along the way.
But honestly, the real show came when Harmanpreet Kaur walked out at number four. She tore into the DC bowlers, mixing fierce drives with bold sixes. Kaur reached her fifty in 34 balls. Together, Sciver-Brunt and Kaur put on 66 runs for the third wicket before Shree Charani finally managed a breakthrough.
Nicola Carey swung hard for a fast 21 from 12 balls. Sajeevan Sajana finished unbeaten on 5, and MI piled up a huge total of 195 for 4. The DC bowlers just couldn’t slow them down; all six bowlers went for more than six runs an over. MI’s batting was just on another level today.
Delhi Capitals Chase: 145 All Out in 19 Overs
Chasing 196, DC fell apart right from the start. Their powerplay was a mess, with four wickets gone and just 35 runs on the board. Shabnim Ismail set the tone, knocking out captain Jemimah Rodrigues for only 1 run. Then Nicola Carey tore through the rest, sending Shafali Verma, Laura Wolvaardt, and Marizanne Kapp back to the dugout in no time.
By the time the strategic timeout rolled around at the end of the ninth over, DC was stuck at 61 for 5. Niki Prasad and Chinelle Henry were hanging in, but the required run rate had shot up past 12 and over. Honestly, the game felt lost.
But Chinelle Henry wasn’t having it. She fought back hard, smashing 5 boundaries and 3 sixes on her way to a rapid 56 from 33 balls. She reached her half-century in just 30 deliveries, and, for a moment, DC fans started to believe again. That hope didn’t last long, though. Amelia Kerr broke through, with Carey taking the catch to end Henry’s innings.
After that, the tail didn’t do much. Kerr grabbed three wickets, Nat Sciver-Brunt took two, and Sanskriti Gupta chipped in with one. DC were all out for 145 in 19 overs, and MI cruised to a 50-run win.
Key Highlight: Harmanpreet Kaur’s Captain’s Knock
The MI skipper delivered when it mattered most:
- With the bat: 74* off 42 balls (8 fours, 3 sixes) at a strike rate of 176.19
Kaur walked in when MI was 51/2 and took complete control. Her partnership with Sciver-Brunt steadied the innings, and she accelerated beautifully in the death overs. The 4th wicket stand with Nicola Carey added 50 runs off just 24 balls, taking the game away from DC.
Conclusion: What This Result Means
MI came out swinging in their WPL 2026 opener, grabbing a convincing win and two points. The defending champs didn’t mess around; they put on a real team show. For DC, it’s a day they’ll want to forget. Their batting just fell apart in the powerplay, and even though Henry fought hard, it wasn’t enough.
Honestly, this game just showed how stacked MI are, both with the bat and the ball. Harmanpreet Kaur was in top gear, and their bowlers looked sharp. If they keep this up, MI looks set to make a strong run at another title.
