'There was plenty of action from both sides' - Mithali Raj reflects on topsy-turvy Mumbai-Gujarat WPL 2025 clash

Match 19 of the Women's Premier League 2025 between Mumbai Indians Women and Gujarat Giants Women turned out to be nail-biting thriller of a contest. Mumbai successfully managed to get over the line by a nine-run margin in a clash which went down to the final over. 

Former Indian skipper, Mithali Raj, commented on Bharti Fulmali's blinder of a 25-ball 61-run knock. She praised Fulmali for expanding her range while using the WPL as the perfect platform to enhance her prowess with the bat. Mithali lauded Fulmali and Simran Shaikh's attempt to guide their team to a win after a top-order collapse.     

"I think credit goes to Bharti Fulmali for bringing Gujarat Giants back into the game with the way she played her shots, timing them beautifully. Earlier, she was a one-dimensional player who primarily scored runs on the on-side. But today, we saw her hitting sixes straight over the bowler’s head and finding boundaries square of the wicket as well. She has definitely improved, and I believe her experience in the Women's Premier League has helped her develop and expand her skillset. We also saw Simran Shaikh contribute with a couple of big hits, taking the game deep and getting Gujarat Giants closer. Both of them played really well," shared Mithali on JioHotstar's Amul Cricket Live.

Mithali felt what helped Mumbai to go away from the game as victors was the added experience in their unit.

"After losing their key middle-order batters, especially after Phoebe Litchfield’s dismissal, Bharti Fulmali and Simran Shaikh stepped up. Fulmali, in particular, was the dominant partner, scoring crucial runs. When she got out, it seemed like the end for Gujarat Giants. However, Simran Shaikh’s cameo and that unexpected shot from Tanuja Kanwar took me by surprise. Both of them tried to turn the game in Gujarat Giants’ favor. In the end, the experience within the Mumbai Indians' camp really made the difference today," she noted.

The ex-cricketer-turned-commentator was left quite surprised by Mumbai's lapses on the field. 

"There were dropped catches, which is something you don’t often see from Mumbai Indians. There was a lot of chaos on the field - missed run-outs, Gujarat Giants’ batters managing to steal extra runs - so there was plenty of action from both sides. For a team like Mumbai Indians, with such experienced players, you wouldn’t expect these errors. But in the end, it was all part of the entertainment for us," Mithali added.

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We are lucky to have a leader like her: Bhatia

Mumbai's wicketkeeper-batter, Yastika Bhatia, emphasised on the process-driven approach the team was trying to follow. She also commented on Harmanpreet Kaur's leadership and extolled the latter for being composed while making calls during crunch moments of the game

"We are taking it one step at a time, and we are so close now. We’re not thinking about the results, but at the same time, we need to stick to the process. If we play well tomorrow, we will win. Harmanpreet, as a captain, is really great. She remains very calm while making decisions. From the outside, you might see a bit of aggression, but she knows exactly what she’s doing. We are lucky to have a leader like her," expressed Bhatia.

Mumbai have an opportunity to gain direct access to the final, provided they win against Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women on Tuesday, March 11. Mumbai winning will mean Delhi Capitals Women taking on Gujarat in the Eliminator.