RCB-W vs MI-W, WPL 2024 Preview: Top berth up for grabs as Mumbai Indians eye sweet farewell in Bengaluru

The Women’s Premier League (WPL) on Saturday (Mar 2) will see defending champions Mumbai Indians take on Royal Challengers Bangalore at the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Both Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore come into the match on the back of a defeat despite starting the season with back-to-back wins. A win for either team will see them take control in a tightly contested WPL table.

Top spot up for grabs

Add WION as a Preferred Source

The contest on Saturday will be Mumbai Indians’ final game in Bengaluru before they shift base to Delhi for the second leg. The defending champions are expecting skipper Harmanpreet Kaur back in the team after missing the UP Warriorz clash due to injury. Humaira Kazi is expected to make way for returning Harmanpreet with Nat Sciver-Brunt relieved of captaincy duties. So far Mumbai have won against Delhi Capitals in a nail-biting opening game before beating Gujarat Giants in their second game.

RCB on the other hand despite their defeat in the previous match have done enough to stay in the hunt for the playoff spot. Smriti Mandhana’s side has shaken off last season’s woes as they continue to climb the table. They have so far beaten UP Warriorz in a close contest while getting the better of Gujarat Giants in their second match. RCB’s momentum was halted by Delhi Capitals in the last match when they lost by 25 runs.

Head-to-Head

Total Matches: 2

Royal Challengers Bangalore – 0 Wins

Mumbai Indians – 2 Win

Form

Royal Challengers Bangalore - LWW

Mumbai Indians - LWW

Match Details

Match No: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Mumbai Indians, Match No. 9

Location: M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

Time Start: 7:30 PM with toss taking place at 7:00 PM

ALSO READ |WPL 2024: Grace Harris' unbeaten knock helps UP Warriorz register consecutive wins; GG lose three in a row

Result Prediction

Mumbai Indians are thefavourites to win the matchwhile Royal Challengers Bangalore search for their maiden win inthe 2023 WPL champions having lost both matches in the inaugural season.

Predicted XIs of both teams

Royal Challengers Bangalore:

Smriti Mandhana (c), Sophie Devine, Sabbhineni Meghana, Nadine de Klerk, Richa Ghosh (wk), Georgia Wareham, Sophie Molineux, Shreyanka Patil, Simran Bahadur, Asha Sobhana, Renuka Thakur

Mumbai Indians:

Yastika Bhatia (wk), Hayley Matthews, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Issy Wong, Amelia Kerr, Pooja Vastrakar, Amanjot Kaur, Sajeevan Sajana, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Keerthana Balakrishnan, Saika Ishaque