Former India captain Mithali Raj believes that UP Warriorz (UPW) skipper Deepti Sharma felt the absence of senior players in her Women’s Premier League (WPL) leadership debut against Gujarat Giants (GG) on Sunday.
Batting first, UPW managed to post 143/9 in their 20 overs, with Deepti leading from the front, scoring 39 off 27 balls, including six fours. For Gujarat Giants, Priya Mishra claimed three wickets, while Ashleigh Gardner and Deandra Dottin picked up two dismissals each.
Commenting on Deepti’s debut, Mithali Raj said on Amul Cricket Live on JioHotstar, “This was Deepti’s first game as captain, and we shouldn’t be overly critical. She did miss the presence of senior players in the squad. Moving forward, the team management will need to assess their balance, possibly bringing in an extra bowler instead of a batter. The batting is heavily dependent on Indian domestic players, and they will need to rework their strategy.”
Mithali praised Deepti’s effort with the bat, stating, “Deepti played at a healthy strike rate of over 140, but she didn’t receive the support she needed to build a bigger partnership. Though there was a 40-50 run partnership, she would have wanted more from overseas players like Tahlia McGrath and Grace Harris. Nevertheless, she kept the momentum going.”
In their chase, GG captain Ashleigh Gardner led with a quickfire 52, supported by unbeaten knocks from Harleen Deol (34*) and Deandra Dottin (33*). The team chased down the target with 12 balls to spare, securing a comfortable win. Gardner was named Player of the Match for her all-round performance, having previously scored 79 not out in the tournament opener.
Mithali Raj lauded Gardner’s form, saying, “Ashleigh has been in tremendous form. Her partnership with Laura Wolvaardt set the platform, allowing Deandra Dottin to finish the game.”
Mithali also highlighted the importance of the partnership between Deandra Dottin and Harleen Deol. “Harleen made the most of her opportunity, building a valuable partnership with Dottin. While the runs weren’t massive, Dottin’s presence at the crease always gives a team the chance to finish the match.”
Brief Scores:
UPW: 143/9 (20) – Deepti Sharma 39, Uma Chetry 24; Priya Mishra 3/25, Deandra Dottin 2/34
GG: 144/4 (18) – Ashleigh Gardner 52, Harleen Deol 34*, Deandra Dottin 33*; Sophie Ecclestone 2/16, Grace Harris 1/1
In the next match, Smriti Mandhana-led RCB will face Meg Lanning’s Delhi Capitals on Monday.
(With inputs from IANS)
