Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra praised India for their comprehensive win against Pakistan in the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup. Harmanpreet Kaur’s team registered a 64-run win against Pakistan at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Sunday to kick off their campaign on a high.
After losing two early wickets of Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana added 91 runs off 63 balls. Mandhana scored a fantastic knock of 68 runs off 44 balls, whereas Richa Ghosh added the finishing touches, smashing 34 runs off just 17 balls to help India post 170 runs on the board.
Chopra said Pakistan was not good enough against India.
“Pakistan, not good enough. Whether it’s the boys or the girls, the stories are actually always similar. This time, the Indian girls showed once again that the gulf between the two teams is massive. We won the match easily by 64 runs and have made the net run rate very good. It means we made Pakistan lick dust once again,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
Chopra wondered if Indian opener Shafali Verma would look to get off the mark with a six as she did against Pakistan.
“Shafali Verma came and hit a six off the first ball, and it reminded me of 2011. Viru (Virender Sehwag), who has been her idol, had hit a first-ball four in every match in that campaign. She has hit a six here. I don’t know whether she will be able to hit a six off the first ball in every match. However, she gave a start like that, but then she got dismissed,” he observed.
The renowned commentator praised Smriti Mandhana for scoring a fine half-century after Verma and Rodrigues were dismissed early.
“Jemimah looked slightly scratchy, and she also got out. You were struggling a little, but then Smriti Mandhana played wonderfully well. She is an incredible player. I call her the goddess of the off side. She hits terrific shots, whether it’s along the ground or over cover. She is brilliant,” Chopra elaborated.
The former Delhi cricketer also praised Harmanpreet Kaur, who scored 36 runs off 35 balls, for playing a second fiddle in his partnership with Smriti Mandhana.
“I really liked the way she played in this game. Her partnership with Harman was critical, in which Harman actually played slowly. It’s important that you set the ego aside at times and try to build a partnership. Overall, the team reached 170 courtesy Richa Ghosh. She hits 70m sixes for time pass,” he stated.
On the other hand, Deepti Sharma returned with impressive figures of 5-10 in his four overs whereas Sree Charani bagged three wickets to skittle out Pakistan at 106 in 17 overs.
“Deepti Sharma dismissed Muneeba Ali with a direct hit, and then she picked up five wickets. She has started the T20 tournament from where she left off in the 50-over World Cup. She was the Player of the Tournament in the 50-over World Cup and has become the Player of the Match here in the first match itself,” he said.
“Sree Charani has a huge upside. I feel she has the potential to be the best left-arm spinner in the world. According to me, Sophie Ecclestone is No. 1 at the moment, but I feel Sree Charani can reach there. She has immense ability,” Chopra observed.
India will next take on Netherlands at Leeds, Headingley on Wednesday.
