Dreamy, magical, historic, I-was-there-when-this-happened moment. IT’S HERE. Those three magical letters, are merging, W.P.L. आपली Mumbai are here, आपली Mumbai are ready. It’s that time of the year, and it’s come early. #AaliRe ..

Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur will be expected to do what she does best – LEAD FROM THE FRONT. With a wealth of international experience as captain and player, captain Kaur would be itching to do what her male counterpart, Rohit Sharma, has done for MI over the years. 

Mumbai and Harman have had a long relationship. First international century. Yep. First job. Yep as well. First WPL title? Surely!

MI, based in the financial capital, is blessed with a rich mix of players. All our boxes are checked. For instance, when looking for experience, there is Natalie Sciver-Brunt. There are Amelia Kerr, Chloe Tryon, and Hayley Matthews when we want world-class all-rounders. When we are in need for speed, there are Issy Wong and Heather Graham.

But what about Indian delicacies? Harman has plenty of options there too. There is Dhara Gujjar, a bankable player with bat, and Jintimani Kalita, who can tire a speed gun. Then there are some twists and turns of Neelam Bisht, Sonam Yadav, and Saika Ishaque. And when she is in the mood for fireworks, she can dial Pooja Vastrakar, Amanjot Kaur, and Humairaa Kaazi. Finally, the unsung heroes of the team – the dear wicket keepers – Yastika Bhatia and Priyanka Bala complete the Fa-MI-ly.

The MI train is ready, Paltan. Our engine is in the zone. All the bogies are well-oiled and well-equipped to reach the final destination. पुढील स्टेशन – Gujarat Giants! अंतिम स्टेशन – WPL Title! Hold on to those overhead handles, it's going to be a breezy ride. 

What: Gujarat Giants vs Mumbai Indians

Where: DY Patil Cricket Stadium, Navi Mumbai

When: 7.30 PM IST

What to expect: Lots of banter, camaraderie, fireworks, and truckloads of fun. Of course, some kickass cricketing action on the field.

What you need to do: Wrap up all your work and grab the best seat in the house to treat yourself to the exciting sporting extravaganza. Paltan, you know what you need to do. The first-ever WPL match just one sleep away. May the 5-time champions, Mumbai Indians, rub off their magic!