WPL 2023: Harmanpreet Kaur has destroyed a lot of teams, says Amelia Kerr after Mumbai Indians advance to playoffs

In Short

• Harmanpreet Kaur won the Player of the Match award after MI beat GG
• Harmanpreet scored 51 runs off 30 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes
• Mumbai Indians beat Gujarat Giants by 55 runs on Tuesday

Mumbai Indians’ all-rounder Amelia Kerr heaped praise on Amelia Kerr for leading her team from the front in the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Harmanpreet won the award for the Player of the Match against Gujarat Giants (GG) on Tuesday, March 15 after MI won by 55 runs.

MI also became the first team to make their way through to the WPL playoffs after winning their fifth match in a row in the tournament. In fact, the Mumbai-based franchise is the only unbeaten team in the championship.

“Harpreet is amazing. It’s nice to have the opportunity to play alongside her now. She has definitely destroyed a lot of teams with her batting, and she has gone out there and done the same in the tournament. She has played with freedom and is a great leader,” Kerr was quoted as saying in the post-match press conference.

“You can tell when she walks in the changing room, all the young girls idolize her. She has got a very calm way and builds confidence in your game. She is open to different suggestions and has led from the front. Not only that, but she gives you the confidence that you can achieve anything,” she stated.

Kerr’s joy also knew no bounds after MI’s stupendous performance in the tournament. “It’s special to be a part of the Mumbai Indians. Having five wins on the board is outstanding. There will be challenges along the way, but to have five wins is pleasing, and I think the people we have in our team are full of energy, and they love cricket.

After advancing to the playoffs, MI will be looking to cement their spot in the top spot and make their way through to the final. Mumbai’s next match is against Alyssa Healy’s UP Warriors on Saturday, March 18 at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Mumbai.

Issy Wong trapped Harleen (22) in front, Amelia Kerr got rid of big-hitter Gardner (8), who is yet to make an impact in the tournament, reducing Giants to 48/5. The Giants added another 48 runs but lost four wickets along the way as the Mumbai Indians continued to make inroads.

Earlier, Mumbai Indians suffered an early hiccup as Gardner removed MI's in-form opener Hayley for a three-ball duck in the very first over. Sciver-Brunt and Yastika Bhatia quickly recovered the side with their crucial 74-run stand for the second wicket.

Kim Garth got the much-needed breakthrough for Gujarat Giants as she trapped Sciver-Brunt (36) in front. One brought two as Yastika ran herself out on 44.

Although wickets were tumbling on one end, Harmanpreet stood tall to take her side to 162/8. Along the way, the MI captain brought up her third fifty in the tournament. For GG, Ash Gardner returned with three wickets.

WPL 2023: Harmanpreet Kaur is unstoppable right now, says Sushma Verma after Mumbai Indians beat Gujarat Giants

Gujarat Giants’ wicket keeper Sushma Verma reckoned that Harmanpreet Kaur is “unstoppable” at the present point in time, and it’s hard to stop the Mumbai Indians’ batter from scoring runs. On Tuesday, March 14, MI became the first team to advance to the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023 playoffs after beating the Giants by 55 runs at the Broxbourne Stadium in Mumbai.

Harmanpreet became the Player of the Match after she scored 51 runs off 30 balls with seven fours and two sixes. On the back of her knock, MI scored 162 for the loss of eight wickets, after which they restricted the Giants to 107 for nine.

Verma said that the Giants bowled well to Harpreet, but the latter made sure of using the short boundaries to good effect.

“With the kind of form Harpreet is in, it’s difficult to stop her. But we did plan with the bowling coach, and it wasn’t easy for her either. We were able to execute our plans to Harman, but she used the shorter boundaries to good effect. She is unstoppable right now. But our bowling was far better,” Verma was quoted as saying in the post-match press conference.