The sixth match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 officially got underway tonight, January 13, 2026, at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai with a high-stakes encounter between two heavyweights. Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and elected to field first, identifying the heavy dew as a critical factor that would favor the chasing side.
The encounter is marked by a massive shift in team dynamics, with both sides missing iconic veterans and blooding new talent. The Gujarat Giants (GG) have entered the fray with a bold, aggressive-heavy lineup featuring breakout domestic stars, looking to end their winless streak against the defending champions. Meanwhile, Mumbai are looking to maintain their dominance despite being forced into late changes to their core combination.
WPL 2026, MI-W vs GG-W: Reason behind the star all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt’s absence
In a significant blow to the defending champions just moments before the toss, Mumbai revealed that their star England all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt would miss the clash. Captain Harmanpreet confirmed that Sciver-Brunt, who has been the ‘engine’ of MI’s success over the past three seasons and was coming off a match-winning 70 in the previous game, was ruled out after suffering a minor niggle during the warm-ups.
Her absence forced a tactical reshuffle, leading to the return of West Indian superstar Hayley Matthews, who steps back into the XI after recovering from the illness that kept her out of the season opener. Beyond her cricketing contributions, Sciver-Brunt’s presence in the middle order is a major miss for Mumbai, as she has been instrumental in stabilizing their innings in high-pressure games. The team management expressed hope for her quick recovery, but for tonight, the onus shifted to the remaining veteran core of Hayley Matthews and Amelia Kerr to fill the massive void left by the England superstar.
“And now Hayley’s back, she’s fit, so hopefully we’ll click in that area as well. Unfortunately, Nat (Sciver-Brunt) is not well today, so in place of her, Hayley’s back.” Harmanpreet said at toss.
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WPL 2026, MI vs GG: Reason behind the star all-rounder Anushka Sharma’s absence
In a significant blow to the Gujarat just moments before the toss, the franchise revealed that their breakout teenage sensation Anushka Sharma would miss the crucial encounter. Captain Ashleigh Gardner confirmed that Sharma, who set the tournament alight with a sparkling 44 on debut against UP Warriorz, was ruled out after suffering a minor injury during the team’s final training session.
“One team change today. Anushka is unfortunately out with an injury, and Ayushi makes her debut today.” Gardner said.
Her absence forced a tactical reshuffle, leading to a WPL debut for domestic recruit Ayushi Soni, who steps in to provide stability in the middle order. Beyond her recent run-scoring, Sharma’s fearless approach at No. 3 had become a vital component of Gujarat’s aggressive new identity this season. The team management expressed hope for her quick recovery, but for tonight, the onus shifted to the experienced core of Sophie Devine and Gardner to anchor the innings and fill the void left by the young Indian star.
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
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