DC-W vs MI-W, WPL 2023: Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians Key Players, Key Battle as table toppers clash in WPL

Mumbai and Delhi both have won their first two games in the WPL. The MI-W started off the season with a huge win over Gujarat Giants, and followed that up with another impressive performance over Royal Challengers Bangalore.

DC-W won their first match against Royal Challengers Bangalore and then backed that up with another win over UP Warriorz on Tuesday.

With the table toppers set to lock horns against each other, it promises an enthralling encounter as both teams know a win in this match will give them a significant headstart in the race for the play-offs. For both teams, certain players take the game away from their opponent by storm.

Incidentally, Delhi Capitals batter Meg Lanning holds the Orange Cap while Mumbai Indians bowler Saika Ishaque holds the Purple Cap.

WPL 2023, DC-W vs MI-W Key Players:

Delhi Capitals

For Delhi Capitals, their batting has been the standout so far. Their opening pair of Meg Lanning and Shafali Verma have provided them blockbuster starts and they have done the bulk of scoring in the first two matches. Here are the key players for DC-W for the upcoming match-

Shafali Verma:

Shafali Verma’s role against Mumbai Indians will be pivotal. The Indian batter has made a superb start. She demolished RCB-W in the first match and scored 84 runs and then added another 17 to her name against the UP Warriorz.

But against a strong Mumbai lineup, Shafali’s role will be extra pivotal as Meg Lanning can have difficulty facing someone like Saika Ishaque and co. Shafali’s familiarity with Indian spinners will be a telling factor and her wicket will value perhaps a lot more than her other colleagues.

Jess Jonassen:

Jess Jonassen was amazing in the last match against UP Warriorz. The Australian all-rounder smashed 42 runs off just 20 balls and then picked up 3 crucial wickets with her left-arm spin to engulf the UP Warriorz.

Although her name is not talked about a lot, the 30-year-old is a superb player and has already shown her worth in the WPL. And against the Mumbai Indians, her bowling can prove pivotal. With the MI-W having a lot of right-handed batters in their team, Jonassen can be the wildcard for DC-W captain Meg Lanning. Apart from that, she is a fearsome hitter in the middle order and that will be an added boost for DC-W.

Mumbai Indians:

Here are the two names who can play a major part for MI-W in the upcoming match against DC-W.

Hayley Matthews:

It was Haylestorm at the Brabourne Stadium a couple of days ago as Hayley Matthews completely decimated the RCB-W bowlers. She scored 77 runs off just 38 balls and chased the target of 156 within 15 overs. And she picked up 3 wickets in the match as well. The West Indies star will be pivotal for MI-W this season and her destructive batting or magical spin can be the telling factor in the toppers’ clash.

Saika Ishaque:

Saika Ishaque has made an emphatic announcement in the WPL. The relatively unknown name currently holds the Purple Cap with 6 wickets after first two matches. Her left-arm spin ahs bamboozled the batters and she will be the main weapon for MI-W attack against an in-form Delhi side.

Ishaque is an unknown commodity and that makes her more dangerous, at least Harmanpreet Kaur will be hoping so.

DC-W vs MI-W Key Battle:

The biggest battle of the match will be between the Orange Cap holder and the Purple Cap holder. DC-W captain Meg Lanning would like to dominate Saika Ishque who holds the Purple Cap. Saika, on the other hand, will be high in confidence and will fancy herself to knock over the great with her left-arm spin. It promises to be an engaging and intense battle as both players would be aiming to come on top and the winner of this battle can dictate the course of the game.