The idiom “there’s always a first time” rang true for Gujarat Giants, as they could not have picked a better occasion to register their maiden victory over Mumbai Indians Women in the history of the Women’s Premier League (WPL). In a must-win clash to stay alive in the tournament, Gujarat brought their A game to the fore to defeat the defending champions by 11 runs in Match 19 of the WPL 2026 on Friday, January 30, at the BCA Stadium, Kotambi, Vadodara.
Tasked with chasing a target of 168 on a two-paced surface, Mumbai struggled throughout their innings, with no one apart from captain Harmanpreet Kaur (82* off 48) managing to get properly set at the crease. Despite her herculean effort to rescue her side, MI were eventually restricted to 156/7 in their 20 overs, as Sophie Devine (2/23) and Georgia Wareham (2/26) picked up two wickets apiece for Gujarat.
WPL 2026: MI-W vs GG-W Updates
As a result, Gujarat finally brought an end to their prolonged winless run against Mumbai, registering their maiden victory over the two-time champions after losing eight successive matches. Courtesy of this crucial win, they have secured second place on the points table and will next feature in the Eliminator, with a spot in the final at stake.
Earlier in the day, Gujarat Giants endured a shaky start to their innings, losing Beth Mooney (5 off 8) early after she was caught at mid-wicket off Shabnim Ismail. Following the early setback, Anushka Sharma (33 off 31) and Sophie Devine (25 off 21) combined in a 48-run partnership for the second wicket off 43 deliveries to steady the innings.
Anushka looked well set for a substantial score but ended up miscuing a shot off Amelia Kerr and was caught at long-on. A well-set Sophie Devine was dismissed in the very next over, pulling Nat Sciver-Brunt straight to Amelia Kerr at deep mid-wicket, leaving Gujarat reeling at 71/3 after 10.1 overs.
Can MI still qualify?
After the double blow, Georgia Wareham joined captain Ashleigh Gardner in the middle. The duo provided the much-needed momentum to the innings, stitching together a vital 71-run stand off 43 balls for the fourth wicket. Gardner narrowly missed out on a deserved half-century, getting stumped for 46 (28) off Amelia Kerr, who finished with figures of 2/26.
Wareham (44* off 26) ensured a strong finish for Gujarat Giants, guiding them to a competitive total of 167/4 at the end of their 20 overs. Meanwhile, despite their defeat, MI are still alive in the tournament, as their fate now rests in the hands of Delhi Capitals (DC). The three-time runners-up will face UP Warriorz in their final fixture, and a victory will guarantee them a place in the Eliminator alongside Gujarat.
However, a loss to DC would mean that either UP or Mumbai qualify for the Eliminator, depending on which side has the superior net run rate. At present, the balance remains in MI’s favour, with a net run rate of +0.059 compared to UP’s -1.146.
– Ends
