In a high-stakes clash at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara, Gujarat Giants skipper Ashley Gardner called correctly at the toss and elected to bat first against Mumbai Indians in the 19th match of the Women’s Premier League 2026. Both teams stuck with their winning combinations, making no changes to their playing XIs.
Gardner, exuding confidence, explained her decision: ‘We’re batting first. We need to draw from our past victories. This feels like a quarterfinal – we aim to post a big total and defend it with the ball. No changes in the side. Past is past; we’re focused on the now. Last time against them, we made 190 but couldn’t hold it.’
Mumbai Indians captain Harmanpreet Kaur, philosophical about the toss loss, said: ‘We wanted to bowl first, but glad for the opportunity. Every game is fresh. Our record’s solid, but we must play top cricket. No team changes.’
Gujarat Giants sit pretty in second place with four wins from seven games, while Mumbai Indians hold third with three victories. RCB has already sealed a direct final spot with six wins from eight. This leaves Delhi Capitals and UP Warriors still in the playoff hunt alongside today’s protagonists.
The match promises fireworks, with Gujarat looking to solidify their top-two finish and Mumbai desperate to climb the table. Key battles include Gujarat’s batting firepower against Mumbai’s potent bowling attack led by Shabnim Ismail.
Mumbai Indians XI: Hayley Matthews, Sajana Sajeevan, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Amanjot Kaur, Amelia Kerr, Richa Ghosh (wk), Saika Ishaque, Vaishnavi Sharma, Shabnim Ismail, Pooja Vastrakar.
Gujarat Giants XI: Beth Mooney (wk), Sophie Devine, Anuska Sharma, Ashley Gardner (c), Georgia Wareham, Bharti Fulmali, Kanika Ahuja, Kashvee Gautam, Tanuja Kanwar, Renuka Singh Thakur, Rajeshwari Gayakwad.
Fans are braced for a thriller that could reshape the playoff race.