PowerPlay erosion dragging MI into unfamiliar WPL territory

Mumbai Indians' WPL 2026 campaign has been quietly eroding in the first-six overs game after game.

Four losses in the league stages are a tournament first for the two-time champions. The season has unraveled with one disturbing pattern: across six games, their batting PowerPlays have dictated terms—almost always against them.

Winning teams in WPL 2026 are averaging 45.46 runs per wicket at 8.74 runs-per-over in the PowerPlays. In defeats, the numbers plummet to 23.17 at 6.83 RPO. The margins have proved decisive, and Mumbai have consistently landed on the wrong side.

The contrast was stark against Delhi Capitals: Mumbai's 23/2 vs Delhi's 57/0. In the batting phase increasingly dictating outcomes, MI surrendered early.

Across six completed games, MI have scored at a concerning 6.05 RPO in the PowerPlays—the lowest in the competition. Table-toppers RCB operate at 8.45 RPO, while bottom-dwellers Gujarat Giants are the most aggressive upfront at 9.03 RPO.

Conditions are part of the explanation but, as skipper Harmanpreet Kaur conceded, should not be the excuse. Seamers have been notably effective, yet MI haven't adapted well.

Against pace/seam, Mumbai have the lowest batting strike-rate and run-rate this edition. RCB, by contrast, are comfortably ahead at 140.28 SR and 8.41 RPO.

Teams in PP vs pace/seam in WPL 2026

Historically, MI have only won eight out of 17 games (47.06%) batting first. They've been strong chasers, with a 77.78% win rate (14 successes in 18 attempts). This season, three of four defeats have come while batting first.

This PowerPlay failure has forced the middle-order into catch-up, with consolidation from Harmanpreet Kaur (166 at 155.14 SR) and Nat Sciver-Brunt (136 at 161.9 SR) instead of acceleration. They are the season's top-two run-getters, but often repair innings leading to competitive, not commanding, totals. MI admitted falling 20 runs short against DC.

"We were 20 runs short with the bat, and even in the PowerPlay, we were not able to execute with the bat and ball. That is really bothering us throughout this tournament. We need to really push ourselves when we are batting in the PowerPlay," Harmanpreet said.

Part of this PowerPlay paralysis appears self-inflicted, stemming from tactical misjudgments and forced changes due to availability and fitness. Stability, role clarity, and continuity—hallmarks of MI's success—have been conspicuously missing.

MI retained 17-year-old G Kamilini ahead of injured opener Yastika Bhatia, with a plan to open alongside Hayley Matthews. That plan unravelled when Matthews' return was delayed due to a quad niggle, prompting MI to open with Amelia Kerr—a stop-gap that failed in two chances.

Before Matthews was match-fit, Sciver-Brunt fell ill. Despite an impact knock in her first game back, Matthews was "rested" when Sciver-Brunt returned, leading to another tweak with Amanjot Kaur opening.

By Game 5, Kamilini's returns dwindled, and she was pushed down the order before being ruled out with a shoulder injury. S Sajana was promoted. That was Mumbai's fourth different opening pairing in the home leg alone. The team persisted with the same combination in Vadodara, but results were familiar: 21/2 in the fifth over, with the PowerPlay slipping away early.

"Our PowerPlay with the bat hasn't clicked," head coach Lisa Keightly admitted. "We've tried a few combinations… Hayley being injured at the start… we've found it hard to get going. We've always been behind where we'd want to be, putting pressure on our middle-order.

"Amelia is probably more valuable in the middle than opening. Kamalini looked like she lost confidence, so we moved her down… We've had to have batters up in the PowerPlay that, if we were fully-fit, you wouldn't have seen as many changes. We're working hard to get that combination going."

None of the five openers tried have crossed 40 in any innings. The frequent chopping and changing has made MI reactive, disrupting individual rhythm and blunting intent in that crucial phase.

Despite unprecedented losses, MI hold the second spot due to superior NRR. But with two league games left—one fewer than others—their margin for error is lower. Unless their PowerPlay stabilises soon, their middle-order may not be enough to keep the campaign alive.