DC-W vs MI-W WPL 2025 Final: Mumbai favourites with momentum on their side as DC-W look to succeed in third consecutive final

The Women’s Premier League 2025 final is here and these are two best teams in Delhi Capitals Women and Mumbai Indians Women. Several key factors come into play here. First, the journey to the final for both teams. Take Delhi, for instance—they haven’t played in nine days, and their last victory was even further back, given that they lost their final group-stage match.

This means they’ve had a long break, potentially losing momentum. Moreover, they haven’t played at the Brabourne Stadium this season. While some of their players may have experience on this ground, it hasn’t been a part of their current campaign. Staying sharp, both physically and mentally, ahead of the final will be a significant challenge for them.

Delhi finds itself in a familiar position, having secured direct entry to the final for the past couple of years. However, when you shift focus to Mumbai, their journey has been the complete opposite—three intense games in just four days, all in Mumbai.

This raises an interesting question: is it actually better to go through the eliminator? History suggests so, with the last two tournaments being won by teams that took the longer route. By that logic, Mumbai might have a slight edge, despite the irony that they had to battle their way through elimination.

Speaking of Mumbai, it’s hard to look past their star performer—Nat Sciver-Brunt—who has once again been in sensational form, as highlighted in our recent articles. She has had an absolutely stellar tournament, missing out on a half-century only three times—each time still managing solid scores in the 30s and 40s. It’s been an incredible run for her.

Equally important, though, is Hayley Matthews, who has finally found her rhythm with the bat to complement her impact with the ball. That makes Mumbai an even more formidable side.

Looking at their bowling attack, as we noted before the eliminator—and as it played out—Mumbai relies heavily on their overseas stars. In fact, 16 of their 20 overs can be delivered by frontline international bowlers, a strategy that has worked well for them and is unlikely to change. The pressure, therefore, will be on Delhi to counter that threat.

Delhi boasts a formidable batting lineup, making it fascinating to see how they handle Mumbai’s bowling attack. On the other hand, Mumbai are still searching for the right opening combination, which adds another layer of intrigue. A key factor could be their decision to move a batter back up the order, especially considering the form of their No. 3, who played an outstanding innings recently.

On the bowling front, Shabnim Ismail’s pace will be a crucial weapon for Mumbai. Her battle against the explosive Shafali Verma promises to be one of the most exciting matchups of the final.

Ismail’s length could pose a real challenge for Shafali Verma, who might find it difficult to dominate against her. That battle at the start of the game will be fascinating to watch.

Meanwhile, Amanjot Kaur has been a standout performer for Mumbai, delivering impressive performances throughout the tournament. 

Overall, Mumbai seem to have the edge heading into the final, in my view. However, Delhi’s biggest strength remains their opening partnership—Shafali Verma and Meg Lanning have been outstanding at the top, setting the tone for their team’s success. They have been exceptional, consistently giving their team strong starts. Their powerplay performances have been outstanding, with their average opening partnership far ahead of any other team in the competition.

Beyond their dominant top order, they have solid depth. Marizanne Kapp adds all-round strength, and they have variety in their bowling attack, including an effective option against right-handers.

Additionally, their swing bowler—Shikha Pandey, adds another dimension with her ability to bring the ball back in. Overall, Delhi has a well-balanced squad with most bases covered, making them a formidable challenge in the final.

Annabelle Sutherland’s aggressive, pacey bowling has made her a key enforcer for Delhi and could be a game-changer in the final. Meanwhile, Delhi’s spinners, Minnu Mani and Jess Jonassen, add variety to the attack, with Jonassen also proving effective with the bat at No. 3.

Conditions will also play a huge role. At Brabourne, the team batting first has been winning, a shift from the earlier part of the tournament when chasing was a significant advantage.

The big question for Delhi is: will it be third time lucky? They’ve reached the final in similar fashion before but have yet to clinch the title.

My instinct leans toward Mumbai, especially given the momentum they’ve built over the last few days. Their ability to adapt quickly to conditions could give them an edge, making them slight favorites heading into the final.