Just when it seemed like the Mumbai Indians were steering their ship to calmer waters, a monstrous wave came crashing down, leaving them shipwrecked on the shores of heartbreak. In a nail-biting WPL 2024 Eliminator, the Royal Challengers Bangalore snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, winning by a mere 5 runs and leaving the MI camp in utter disbelief.
Overview Table
| Teams | Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore |
| Match | WPL 2024 Eliminator |
| Result | RCB won by 5 runs |
| Batting First | MI – 134/4 (20 overs) |
| Chasing Target | RCB – 139/5 (19.5 overs) |
| Player of the Match | Shreyanka Patil (RCB) |
| Turning Point | Harmanpreet Kaur’s dismissal in 18th over |
The Harmanpreet Gambit
At the eye of this storm was none other than the talismanic Harmanpreet Kaur, whose dismissal in the 18th over proved to be the turning point of the match. With 16 runs required off 13 balls, the skipper decided to take the bull by the horns, dancing down the wicket to the young Shreyanka Patil. Alas, her audacious shot found the fielder at long-on, and the RCB camp erupted in jubilation.
In a candid post-match analysis, MI head coach Charlotte Edwards admitted, “We’d back her to take that shot on. If it goes for six, we need 12 [10] in the last two and we are in the driving seat. I thought it had gone for six when she had hit it.”
A Twist of Fate
Edwards, however, acknowledged that the game was lost in those final 12 deliveries, where MI failed to keep their composure. “For 38 overs of the game, we controlled it, we just didn’t control the last 12 balls of the game, and ultimately, that cost us a finals’ spot,” she rued.
The coach’s words rang true, as the MI batters crumbled under pressure, with S Sajana and Pooja Vastrakar both succumbing to stumpings. Amelia Kerr’s valiant 27 off 25 balls was not enough to turn the tide, as the team failed to find the boundary in the final three overs.
Praise for the Skipper
Despite the heartbreaking loss, Edwards had nothing but praise for her captain, Harmanpreet Kaur. “She is very calm. She is very quiet,” Edwards gushed. “She doesn’t say too much. But when she does speak, it is very much worth listening to. That’s why I love working with her.”
The coach also acknowledged the immense pressure these young players face on the grandest stage, stating, “For some of these players, we quite quickly forget, someone like Sajana has only played domestic cricket. This is the biggest stage these players play on. This is the WPL semi-final. Pressure does take a toll.”
A Glimpse into the Future
While the loss stings, Edwards remained optimistic about the future, highlighting the wealth of talent emerging from the WPL. “I loved the opening bowler from Gujarat, Shabnam Shakil. Bright talent, 16 years old, I thought she performed brilliantly. Titas [Sadhu] from Delhi… I think the fast bowlers really stand out for me because I think that is something India will look at moving forward.”
She also reserved special praise for the player who proved to be MI’s undoing, Shreyanka Patil. “Shreyanka Patil, I love the way she plays her cricket. She comes to the wicket, and you always feel like you are in a battle with her.”
A Lesson Learned
As the curtain falls on MI’s WPL 2024 campaign, Edwards acknowledged the bitter pill her team must swallow. “The players will be better for this experience, but it is not easy because we have lost a game we should have won. The players in the dressing room are hurting now but will definitely learn from this and be stronger.”
In the end, the Eliminator proved to be a masterclass in the unpredictability of cricket, where fortunes can swing in the blink of an eye. While MI’s feelings were crushed, the RCB camp was left to indulge in their euphoria having won this painful battle; the fan base enjoyed a much awaited Final Showdown.
The WPL Ripple Effect
As the dust settles on this epic encounter, one thing is clear: more than a tournament, the Women’s Premier League is a movement that is leading by example to the generation of young girls in India. As Edwards succinctly remarked it is “The more [the WPL] is seen across India the more girls are going to play the [the WPL] game and be inspired for life.”
In the end, although the end might have happened prematurely, the remarkable girls who got a chance to see the girls excel, play skillfully and give their all. Certainly for them, the Women’s Premier League 2024 will serve as a beacon of hope, kindling dreams and feeding aspirations for ages to unfold.
In fact, the eliminator may have left MI with a bitter taste in their mouth but it was also a sweet reminder to the power of sport to cross boundaries and stimulate change.And who knows? It might be the future Harmanpreet Kaur or Shreyanka Patil in the arena, standing steadfast, having their own name inscribed in the hall of cricket fame.
