In the WPL 2026 match against the Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Giants skipper Ashleigh Gardner won the toss and elected to bat at the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium in Kotambi.
After winning the toss, GG skipper Gardner said that the clash is a kind of virtual quarter-final for the side. She is also hopeful of putting a good total on the board and defending it later with the ball.
Speaking about the rivalry with the “Paltan”, the GG skipper said that the side would like to focus on the present. She also said that in the previous match against the Mumbai Indians, her side had posted a good score, but fell short in defending it. Gardner also feels that the statistics speak for themselves and that they have a great opportunity to try to change that.
On the other hand, despite losing the toss, MI captain Harmanpreet Kaur said she would have opted to bowl first had she won it.
She also stated that her team needs to start well in the Powerplay, and it would be good if they manage to pick up a few wickets. Speaking about their domination over the Giants, Harmanpreet stated that every match is a new match and every day is a new day. She also added that Mumbai have to come out and play good cricket against Gujarat.
MI will be riding high after dominating one of the tournament’s top teams, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), for most of their last match, ultimately winning by 15 runs. For MI, having the best NRR among the teams vying for the playoffs is a significant advantage. In the event of a points tie, a superior NRR would see MI through.
Currently, the “Paltan” is placed in the third spot with a net run rate (NRR) of +0.146 and six points. Having played seven games, the side has won three matches and suffered losses in four clashes.
The Giants are enjoying the second position on the points table, with eight points and a net run rate (NRR) of -0.271. So far, in seven matches, they have emerged victorious on four occasions and lost three matches.
WPL 2026, MI vs GG: Confirmed Playing XI
Mumbai Indians: Hayley Matthews, Sajana Sajeevan, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Amanjot Kaur, Amelia Kerr, Rahila Firdous (WK), Sanskriti Gupta, Poonam Khemnar, Shabnim Ismail, Vaishnavi Sharma.
Gujarat Giants: Beth Mooney (WK), Sophie Devine, Anushka Sharma, Ashleigh Gardner (C), Georgia Wareham, Bharti Fulmali, Kanika Ahuja, Kashvee Gautam, Tanuja Kanwer, Renuka Singh Thakur, Rajeshwari Gayakwad.
