Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians - Which team has a better chance of finishing on top of the WPL 2024 table?

Mumbai Indians (MI) and Delhi Capitals (DC) have been the two most dominant sides in the short history of the Women’s Premier League (WPL).

Delhi topped the league stage of WPL 2023, winning six of eight games and a net run rate of +1.856. Mumbai also ended the league stage with six wins. They won their first five games but finished second in the points table on run rate (+1.711).

While Delhi Capitals topped the league stage, Mumbai Indians emerged triumphant in the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League.

Having hammered UP Warriorz in the Eliminator at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai by 72 runs, they thumped Delhi Capitals by seven wickets in the final at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai to be crowned the inaugural WPL champions. Batting first, DC were held to 131-9, a total MI chased down in 19.3 overs.

Both Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians continued their dominance in the ongoing WPL edition as well, as they are the top two sides in the points table. On that note, let’s look at which of the two teams has a better chance of finishing on top of the WPL 2024 table.

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Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians: Performance in WPL 2024 so far and remaining matches

Delhi Capitals have been in great form in WPL 2024.

Delhi Capitals have played five games in WPL 2024, winning four. They lost their tournament opener to Mumbai Indians in Bangalore by four wickets but went on to register triumphs over UP Warriorz (nine wickets), Royal Challengers Bangalore (25 runs) and Gujarat Giants (25 runs). Delhi got the better of Mumbai Indians by 29 runs when the sides clashed for the second time in Delhi.

Looking at the list of their remaining games in WPL 2024, DC take on UP Warriorz on March 8, Royal Challengers Bangalore Women on March 10 and Gujarat Giants on March 13. The Capitals will be confident of winning all three games.

On paper, they are stronger than all the opponents they face in their remaining league games. It's thus not surprising that they beat all three teams in the Bangalore leg.

If Delhi Capitals win their remaining three games, they will finish with 14 points and will boost their net run rate even further.

Even if DC lose one of their three games, they will still end the league stage of WPL 2024 with 12 points and a reasonably good net run rate. The advantage they have over Mumbai Indians is that they have one extra game in hand, which could have a big say in deciding who tops the points table after the league stage.

Shifting our focus to Mumbai Indians, they have eight points from six games, having won four and lost two games. MI began their campaign with a four-wicket win over DC. They beat Gujarat Giants by five wickets but were stunned by UP Warriorz by seven wickets.

A thumping seven-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore was followed by a 29-run loss to Delhi. They returned to winning ways by beating UP Warriorz by 42 runs in their previous WPL 2024 games. Mumbai have been slightly inconsistent in comparison to Delhi, which is why they find themselves in second position.

MI’s remaining games in the league stage are against Gujarat Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore Women. They beat both sides in the Bangalore leg, but GG and RCB have had their moments in the tournament. Considering that Mumbai have not been at their dominant best in WPL 2024, these two sides could capitalize if MI slip.

However, it will be an upset if Mumbai Indians go down to either Gujarat or Bangalore. If they win both games, they will finish the league stage with 12 points.

However, if Delhi also finish with 12 points, MI are unlikely to finish first in the points table, as there's a greater possibility of DC taking the top spot on net run rate.

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Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians: Form of key players

Mumbai Indians are the defending champions in the WPL

For DC or MI to top the points table, they would need their big names to fire in their remaining WPL 2024 games.

If we look at the form of key players from both sides, Delhi captain Meg Lanning has notched up three half-centuries in five innings, Alice Capsey has 167 runs from four innings, while Shafali Verma 156 runs at a strike rate of 151.45. Jemimah Rodrigues hit form with a brilliant 69* off 33 against MI.

Strikingly, Delhi Capitals bowlers occupy the top three slots in the list of wicket-takers in WPL 2024 after 14 games. Jess Jonassen has claimed nine scalps in three games, Radha Yadav eight in five, while Marizanne Kapp eight in four. Arundhati Reddy has chipped in with six scalps in five innings.

Looking at Mumbai’s key batters, Amelia Kerr tops the list for her side with 174 runs in six innings. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur is next with 140 runs from four innings, while Nat Sciver-Brunt has scored 137 runs in six innings. Hayley Matthews (121 runs from six innings) has not quite been at her best, though.

Among Mumbai Indians’ bowlers, Sciver-Brunt and Kerr have seven wickets each, while Shabnim Ismail and Saika Ishaque have six and five, respectively.

Considering the overall consistency of both teams, the individual form of players as well as the fact that Delhi Capitals have one more game to play than Mumbai Indians, Lanning and Co. look better placed to finish atop the WPL 2024 points table.