WPL 2024 Playoff Scenarios After Bengaluru Leg. Photo: Sportzpics
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 is nearing its business end as 11 matches of the 20-match league season have concluded, with Delhi Capitals topping the points table. The Capitals are not alone, as the three teams finished with six points.
The chances of teams qualifying for the play-offs are now becoming a little clearer. Only three teams could reach the Playoffs, with the top team going straight to the Finals and the second and third placed teams meeting in an Eliminator.
Worst performers in the Bengaluru leg
Gujarat Giants were the worst performers in the WPL 2024. In the four matches played so far, the Beth Mooney-led team did not even come close to beating the opposition, let alone winning one.
Their losing margins are five wickets with 11 balls to spare against Mumbai, eight wickets with 45 balls to spare against RCB, six wickets with 26 balls to spare against Warriorz and 25 runs against Capitals. Their chances of qualifying are therefore very small and are out of their control.
Also read: WPL 2024 points table: Capitals remain top as RCB defeated UP Warriorz
Most dominant teams
It would be unfair to single out one team as the most dominant over the other. Therefore, both the finalists of the first edition, Mumbai and Delhi, would be called the most dominant as they have won three of their four matches. While Delhi lost to Mumbai, the latter was defeated by Warriorz in a dominant batting from Kiran Navgire.
What can you expect in the Delhi leg of WPL 2024?
The Delhi leg of WPL 2024 starts on Tuesday, March 5. Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium will certainly be slower than Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium, which hosted the first 11 matches of the competition.
This would force the teams to bowl with more spinners and might give Gujarat Giants a chance as they have three quality spinners – Ashleigh Gardner, Sneh Rana and Mannat Kashyap.
Apart from the pitch, the crowd reactions would be an important point to note, RCB are thriving in their home conditions. It would be interesting to see how they do outdoors. Delhi would hope to make the most of their last four matches in home conditions and progress straight to the final.
Warriorz could find support not only in the crowd, but also from the field. The likes of Sophie Ecclestone, Deepti Sharma and Chamari Athapaththu were able to get some help from the wicket and further their team’s cause in the last three matches.
What do teams have to do to qualify?
For Mumbai and Delhi it is simple. They need to win two of their last four games. For Gujarat, they not only have to win all their matches but also make sure others lose their matches. For RCB it’s about winning two of their last three and for Warriorz it’s about winning all of their last three to reach the last three.
First print: March 5, 2024 | 1:29 am IST