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The high-stakes Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 Eliminator is underway, with Gujarat Giants winning the toss and opting to bowl first against Mumbai Indians. In a crucial knockout encounter, Gujarat skipper Ashleigh Gardner explained the decision, citing the fresh pitch and the team’s strong bowling performance in their previous match, despite a narrow defeat.
Major blow for Gujarat Giants: Deandra Dottin ruled out of WPL 2025 Eliminator
The big news from the toss was the unfortunate injury to star all-rounder Deandra Dottin, who suffered a setback during warm-ups. This could be a significant loss for Gujarat, given her explosive batting ability and experience in high-pressure games. In her absence, England‘s Danielle Gibson has been drafted into the playing XI, making her debut in a crucial knockout match. Speaking at the toss, Ashleigh Gardner acknowledged the challenge but backed her team to deliver.
“We’re going to bowl first. It’s another fresh wicket, and we feel that we did a lot of things right the other night. Didn’t get the win, but taking a lot of positives from our bowling innings. Unfortunately, Deandra picked up an injury just five minutes before the game, which is a massive loss. But we’re excited for Dani Gibson, who gets a great opportunity to shine on debut. Generally, it’s a high-scoring pitch, but there might be some assistance for the bowlers early on. Everyone in the camp is excited, though there are some nerves since this is our first time in this situation,” Gardner said during the toss time.
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Mumbai Indians confident despite batting first
Mumbai captain Harmanpreet Kaur was unfazed by Gujarat’s decision to bowl first, stating that the team was prepared for any scenario. She emphasized the importance of staying composed in big games, especially with Mumbai having previous experience in eliminators.
“Yeah, it’s a fresh pitch, but we were okay with either decision. We’ve been in this situation twice before and understand the importance of this game. The key for us is to stay in the moment and execute our plans well. We’ve made one change – Parunika Sisodia misses out, and Saika Ishaque comes back into the XI,” Harmanpreet said.
The stakes in this Eliminator could not be higher, as the winner will advance to the WPL 2025 final to take on the Delhi Capitals, who have reached their third consecutive WPL final. Having finished as runners-up in both 2023 and 2024, Delhi will be aiming to break their jinx and claim their first-ever WPL title. With Gujarat missing Dottin and Mumbai relying on their experience in knockout matches, the Eliminator promises to be an intense battle as both teams fight for a spot in the grand final.
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
