Mumbai Indians Women (MI-W) vs Delhi Capitals Women (DC-W) 1st Match, WPL 2024: Match preview, playing XI, Head to Head, Where to Watch on TV & Live Streaming Details

The Women's Premier League (WPL) is scheduled to begin its second season on Friday, February 23 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The opening game will be the rematch of the 2023 WPL final as it will witness the clash between the reigning champions Mumbai Indians (MI) and the runners-up Delhi Capitals (DC). Prior to the highly anticipated first game, there will be a star-studded opening ceremony titled 'Cricket ka Queendom', in which prominent Bollywood actors such as Shah Rukh Khan, Shahid Kapoor, Tiger Shroff, Varun Dhawan, Sidharth Malhotra, and Kartik Aaryan will wow the audience with their incredible performances.

Just as they did in the first season, Mumbai will likely pose a bigger challenge to the rest of the teams. Entering WPL 2024, Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. will be the favorites as they carry the weight of being defending champions. Furthermore, what distinguishes MI from the other four teams in the tournament is the squad's balance of domestic and foreign players and there being a mix of experience and youth.

Delhi, on the other hand, did practically everything right during the 2023 WPL to win the inaugural title. However, their awful effort in the summit clash resulted in a seven-wicket defeat. Nonetheless, the battle between Mumbai and Delhi will undoubtedly be tense, as both sides will do their best to win the tournament's opening fixture.

M Chinnaswamy Stadium Pitch Report

The M Cinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru is known for being batting-friendly in the T20 format because of its flat wickets and small ground dimensions. However, with black soil being utilized for wickets recently, the stadium has seen both high-scoring and low-scoring games. Moreover, the surface may something to offer for the new-ball bowlers. The average first innings score in the last five T20 matches has been 85 runs. As a result, the team that wins the toss may choose to bowl first at this venue.

MI-W vs DC-W XI, WPL 2024 Match 1:

Mumbai Indians Women (MI-W) XI:

Mumbai have a star-studded squad for the upcoming WPL, distinguishing them from the other four clubs in the event. They have four India internationals on their roster- Pooja Vastrakar, Yastika Bhatia, Amanjot Kaur, and Saika Ishaque. In terms of overseas players, Hayley Matthews and Natalie Sciver-Brunt were the standout performers for MI in the previous season. Matthews, who won the Player of the Tournament award, was outstanding with the bat and backed it up with some great off-spin.

Sciver-Brunt, on the other hand, was named Player of the Match in the 2023 WPL final for her unbeaten half-century. Apart from Matthews and Saika, star England pacer Issy Wong and New Zealand leg-spinner Amelia Kerr were key players for the team. Moreover, with South Africa's Shabnim Ismail joining the squad, the MI attack appears even more potent.

Hayley Matthews, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Nat Sciver, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Pooja Vastrakar, Shabnim Ismail, Jintimani Kalita, Amandeep Kaur, Saika Ishaque

Delhi Capitals Women (DC-W) XI:

Delhi Capitals are still one of the most balanced teams in the WPL tournament. Meg Lanning, the recently retired Australian, was the 2023 WPL's Orange Cap holder, amassing 345 runs in nine games with a strike rate of 139.11. The opening duo of Lanning and Shafali Verma bolster the batting lineup. Jemimah Rodrigues strengthens the middle-order while Alice Capsey has the role of the finisher.

But the team suffers an issue from not having enough left-handed batting alternatives. Poonam Yadav, the team's lone leg spinner, and Titas Sadhu will be the players to watch in the forthcoming game. Annabel Sutherland, the joint-most expensive purchase in the 2024 WPL mini-auction, will also bolster the squad. The squad gains even more intrigue with the rise of Minnu Mani from Kerala.

Shafali Verma, Meg Lanning (C), Jemimah Rodrigues, Marizanne Kapp, Alice Capsey, Annabel Sutherland, Shikha Pandey, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Radha Yadav, Poonam Yadav, Titas Sadhu

MI-W vs DC-W Head-to-Head Records: