Gujarat Giants beat Mumbai Indians by 11 runs at BCA Stadium, Kotambi, on Friday in WPL 2026, ending a long losing run and booking their place in the Eliminator.
This was Gujarat’s first win over Mumbai in nine WPL meetings. The match worked like a virtual knockout, with both sides fighting for the final Eliminator spot.
Gujarat posted 167 for 4 after a slow start with the bat. The innings was held together by Ashleigh Gardner, who scored 46, and Georgia Wareham, who stayed unbeaten on 44.
Gujarat were steady rather than fast in the first half of the innings. The run rate picked up in the last five overs as Wareham found the boundary regularly and punished loose balls.
Mumbai Indians had their chances early but could not break the key partnerships. The fielding side struggled to stop runs at the death, which proved costly later.
Chasing 168, Mumbai relied heavily on captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who played a brilliant knock of 82 not out from 48 balls. She kept Mumbai in the game till the very end.
However, wickets at regular intervals hurt Mumbai’s chase. Sophie Devine struck early, while Wareham removed key batters in the middle overs to slow the scoring.
Mumbai’s lower middle order came under pressure, an area that had not been tested much earlier in the season. They finished on 156 for 7, falling short despite Harmanpreet’s late hitting.
The turning point came in the final over. Gardner chose to bowl it herself with 26 runs to defend. Harmanpreet smashed two sixes, but Gardner kept her calm and closed the game for Gujarat.
The win sends Gujarat Giants into the Eliminator and breaks a long-standing mental barrier against the defending champions.
Mumbai Indians’ qualification is now out of their hands. If Delhi Capitals beat UP Warriorz, Mumbai will be knocked out. A UP Warriorz win, however, keeps Mumbai alive due to their better net run rate.