WPL 2024: Why is Nat Sciver-Brunt leading MI Women instead of Harmanpreet Kaur vs UP Warriorz?

Mumbai Indians Women (MI-W) continued their campaign in the Women’s Premier League 2024 as they took on UP Warriorz in Match 8 on Wednesday, February 28 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. However, ahead of the game, there was a big blow for the defending champions as their captain Harmanpreet Kaur was ruled out of the game making Nat Sciver Brunt take up the captaincy duties.

Speaking at the toss, Sciver-Brunt revealed that Harmanpreet got a niggle ahead of the game and the team management decided to rest her as they didn’t want to take any risk with her so early in the competition.

“Harman has got a niggle, too early in the competition and we wanted to rest her. Shabmin Ismail has a niggle and she misses out as well. Harman has led us well, I've picked up a bit from her. Lots of chants for RCB, but we've done well to silence the crowd as well,” said Sciver-Brunt at the toss.

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Apart from Harmanpreet, MI faced another injury trouble as veteran seamer Shabnim Ismail also got ruled out of the fixture due to a niggle. As a result, MI brought in Humaira Kazi and Issy Wong as replacements for the two players.

Harmanpreet Kaur is the leading run-scorer of the tournament so far

Notably, Harmanpreet will be a big miss for MI as she has been in sensational form in the tournament so far with 101 runs to her name from two innings at an average of 101 and a strike rate of 134.66 with one half-century to her name. She scored a brilliant 55 (34) in the season opener against Delhi with the help of seven fours and a six to help her side chase down 172.

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She further scored an unbeaten 46* (41) against Gujarat Giants guiding her team comfortably to the target of 127 in 18.1 overs. In her absence, Mumbai will have a huge task of continuing their winning momentum as they’re currently ranked second on the points table after two wins in their first two fixtures. Meanwhile, UP captain Alyssa Healy won the toss and invited Mumbai to bat first.