WPL 2026: Giants break MI jinx, seal spot in Eliminator

Opponents can never rest easy till Harmanpreet Kaur is at the crease. So was the case in the Women’s Premier League on Friday (January 30, 2026), but Gujarat Giants managed to overcome the Mumbai Indians skipper’s unbeaten 82 off 48 balls to clinch a nerve-racking 11-run win at the Kotambi Stadium.

The victory helped the Giants seal the second spot in the standings and progress to the Eliminator on February 3. MI’s fate hinges on the final league fixture between Delhi Capitals and UP Warriorz on Sunday (February 1).

After the Giants rode on a 71-run stand between Ashleigh Gardner (46, 28b, 7×4, 1×6) and Georgia Wareham (44 n.o., 26b, 4×4, 2×6) to score 167 for four, MI was restricted to 156 for seven. Wareham and Sophie Devine picked up two wickets apiece. This is GG’s first victory against Harmanpreet and Co. in nine outings.

MI’s hopes in the chase rested squarely on Harmanpreet’s shoulders. With the visitors reduced to 37 for three, the skipper had to find a balance between not losing further wickets at that stage and not letting the asking rate get out of hand. Amelia Kerr lent some support in a 45-run stand, but she was caught behind off Wareham in the 12th over.

Harmanpreet picked her moments to find the boundary and ease the pressure, but with support not forthcoming from the other end, she was left with too much to do in the end.

Missed chance

Giants could have sealed the contest in the 16th over had Beth Mooney collected a leg-break from Wareham cleanly to stump Harmanpreet on 38.

Considering the high stakes riding on this contest, Giants skipper Gardner elected to bat and set a target — notably, the first time since the 2024 final that a captain was doing so upon winning the toss.

After Mooney’s dismissal in the third over, the Giants were given a solid base through Devine and Anushka Sharma’s 48-run association for the second wicket.

The Aussie pair of Gardner and Wareham came together at 71 for three in the 11th over. The two batters sized up the surface before finding a few productive overs to deliver a robust finish.