Eliminator spot at stake as MI take on GG
Heading into their last game of the league stage, the equation is simple for both Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Giants - win, and secure a place in the Eliminator. Lose, and leave your fate hanging, for nearly 48 more hours, till the conclusion of the UP Warriorz-Delhi Capitals tie.
In some ways, this has been the most closely-contested season of the WPL, and it's only fitting that the qualification battle is still open for four teams to fight it out, with the last match likely to seal the fate of at least one qualifier for the playoffs.
This last-day test is as unfamiliar a situation for the dominant two-time winners Mumbai Indians as it is for Gujarat Giants, who have been familiar with their fate - this way or that - long before the final game of the league stage.
Neither teams have had an impressive campaign so far. They have stuttered all along, struggling to find momentum, not winning more than two matches at a stretch, and not losing more than three at a go. Both have enjoyed moments of individual and collective brilliance, and clinched close contests.
Friday evening will serve another test for those nerves. Giants have never beaten Mumbai Indians in their previous eight head to head contests. But, for as high-stakes and nervy as it can be, there could never be a more opportune moment.
When: Friday, January 30, 2026, 7:30 PM IST
Where: Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Giants, Match 19, BCA Stadium, Kotambi
What to expect: As the season has progressed, teams have adapted well to register bigger scores. There has been no apparent advantage for the teams winning the toss.
Team News:
Gujarat Giants: The Giants have tinkered a fair bit with their line-up throughout the tournament. However, there shouldn't be much reason for them to tinker with their XI in the final league game.
Probable XI: Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine, Anushka Sharma, Ash Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Bharti Fulmali, Kanika Ahuja, Kashvee Gautam, Tanuja Kanwar, Renuka Thakur, Rajeshwari Gayakwad
Mumbai Indians: There would be a temptation to bring Nicola Carey back into the XI, but there is unlikely to be room for that.
Probable XI: Hayley Matthews, S Sajana, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur, Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Rahil Fordous, Poonam Khemnar, Sanskriti Gupta, Shabnim Ismail, Vaishnavi Sharma
What they said:
"We haven't had the best record against [Mumbai Indians]. Hopefully, we can change that and head into the final with confidence." - Ash Gardner, Gujarat Giants skipper.
"This is our fourth year playing together, so we know each other very well. That's something special about MI - whenever the team is challenged, someone always steps up" - Harmanpreet Kaur, Mumbai Indians skipper.
