Harmanpreet Kaur Caps a Stunning WPL With a Victory over Meg Lanning and Delhi Capitals

An Auction during the World Cup is bound to create distractions in the minds of a player. The WPL started with issues over timing with the auction taking place at a crucial point of the international calendar. The tournament though had a lot to offer. With Australia’s success in Women’s Cricket primarily down to Meg Lanning and her players conviction, a part of it can be attributed to their own Big Bash League, which has given players a chance to lead, get into high pressure situations and play on the big stage.

With five teams in the inaugural Women’s Premier League, the tournament had all the ingredients to mark success. Two sides had foreign leaders, who would have provided immense experience for the youngsters in the side. One of them is possibly the best captain in the history of Women’s Cricket, who led a team that just never gave up. Even in the Finals, with the side at 79-9, Meg Lanning’s side pulled themselves together and proved that they do not go down easily.

The other foreign captain is one of the best openers in Women’s Cricket. The UP Warriorz finished third but still fought well and gave the tournament a handful of nail-biters. The Warriorz bought with them a never say die attitude as they clinched some incredible victories in the WPL, from positions where victory seemed close to impossible.

The Royal Challengers and Gujarat Giants had their struggles. Smriti Mandhana, with a handful of superstars on her side had a tough initiation to captaincy on the big stage as she failed to prove herself in a tournament which is almost equivalent to international standards. With stars like Ellyse Perry on her side though, the tournament still gives her and the youngsters in the side an insight on how champions take defeat, and how they bounce back. With a bad tournament behind them, Smriti Mandhana knows how bad things can get and that could bring out a sense of fearlessness knowing things can’t get worse in the next season.

Gujarat, like the odd IPL side or international side in every tournament had to struggle with player availability. They lost their captain Beth Moony early in the tournament, and were caught up against teams who played really good cricket against them. Gujarat did have some bright moments with the likes of Harleen Deol stepping out of the shadows as Gujarat found an aspect of strength with their ability to hit boundaries through their aggressors in the middle-order.

They were still behind the eight ball though with the side failing to pick themselves up collectively after early injury concerns. Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals, the finalists proved why they deserved their spots up top. Mumbai Indians, cracked the recipe for success perfectly. They packed their top-order with aggressive batters, who can also assist with the ball, and on most occasions they did the job.

The Delhi Capitals too had a power packed top five and a really skillful bowling attack. Both sides, on their day proved to be too good for their opponents, and continuously managed to give a fight when the going got tough. Their captains too used their resources really well, with Meg Lanning showing her side how to fight back after an early defeat. She led the side with example, leading the run charts, and easing pressure on the youngsters.

The Mumbai Indians though were too good on the day it mattered. The Final provided fans with what was promised. Their was a fight back from the Delhi Capitals, and some twists in the chase but Nat Sciver Brunt, England’s star player provided a masterclass on how to play in a high pressure chase, allowing Harmanpreet Kaur to finally get her hands on a trophy, and also find a way past Meg Lanning in a tournament.