Fantasy: Plenty of in-form stars to be up against each other

Mumbai Indians will take on Delhi Capitals in Match 7 of the ongoing Women’s Premier League, 2023. Both teams have won their first two games. That makes it a battle for supremacy. In a tournament where each team has eight league games, and the league topper will go straight to the final, it becomes quite a significant fixture. 

Pitch and conditions

The conditions at the Dr. DY Patil Stadium are expected to remain similar - batting-friendly. The first innings scores in the three games here have been 211/4, 207/5 and 169/6 and we might see another big score in this game, especially when you factor in the batting potential of both sides. 

On the bowling front, the pacers have enjoyed the conditions more than their spin counterparts. The biggest example is the mid-phase where pacers have bowled 42.3% of the overs but have snaffled 56.3% of the wickets. 

So top-order batters and medium-pacers should be the way to go. 

Suggested teams

While you could go for the above team, you can also choose your team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Then, based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.

Captaincy suggestions

For small leagues: Meg Lanning ( c ), Hayley Matthews (vc)

For grand leagues: Nat Sciver-Brunt ( c ), Jess Jonassen (vc)

Stats That Matter

> Meg Lanning has been the highest scorer of the season, amassing 142 runs at an average of 71 and a strike-rate as high as 167.1

> Mumbai’s prime opener, Hayley Matthews has been the most prolific all-rounder of the tournament as yet. She is the second highest scorer (124 runs, 179.7 strike-rate) and has also chipped in with three wickets at an economy of 7.2. 

> Nat Sciver-Brunt is one of those undroppable all-rounders for this fixture. She bats at three and has already scored 78 with only one dismissal and is also a four-over bank with the ball. 

> Mumbai’s Saika Ishaque is currently the highest wicket-taker in the competition. She has six wickets at an impressive economy of 5.2 to go along with an average of 6.2. 

Grand League Punts

> Jess Jonassen can earn a batting promotion to break the monotony of right-handers in Delhi’s top five and counter the match-up of Saika Ishaque. She struck an impressive 42 off 20 balls in the last game. Also, she is certain to bowl all her four overs which makes her a possible captaincy option among other big stars. 

> On a similar note, the part-timer Alice Capsey can be handy with the ball. Both of Mumbai openers have a subpar record against off-spinners (Matthews averages 17.5 against off-spinners since 2022 while Yastika stands at a mere 5.5). Also, Capsey snaffled 2/10 in Delhi's win over Bangalore. Not to forget, Delhi are yet to reap the benefits of her batting potential. 

Here are the Top 10 Criclytics Projections 

Probable XIs

Delhi Capitals: Meg Lanning ( c ), Shafali Verma, Marizanne Kapp, Jemimah Rodrigues, Alice Capsey, Jess Jonassen, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Shikha Pandey, Arundhati Reddy/Jasia Akhter, Radha Yadav, Tara Norris

Mumbai Indians: Hayley Matthews, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur ( c ), Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Pooja Vastrakar, Issy Wong, Saika Ishaque, Humaira Kazi, Jintimani Kalita