Mithali Raj: Deepti Sharma's Leadership Lacked Senior Support

Synopsis

Mithali Raj highlighted that Deepti Sharma's debut leadership in the Women's Premier League was impacted by the absence of senior players. Despite her solid performance, UP Warriorz struggled against Gujarat Giants, leading to a call for strategic adjustments in the team's composition.

Key Takeaways

Deepti Sharma missed senior players in her debut match.
UPW scored only 143/9 in 20 overs.
The team management needs to rethink their batting strategy.
Ashleigh Gardner was awarded Player of the Match.
Partnerships were crucial for GG's success.

New Delhi, Feb 17 (NationPress) Former India captain Mithali Raj opines that UP Warriorz (UPW) captain Deepti Sharma felt the absence of experienced players during her inaugural leadership match in the Women's Premier League (WPL) against Gujarat Giants (GG) on Sunday.

Batting first, UPW managed to score only 143/9 in their 20 overs, with Deepti leading the charge, scoring 39 runs off 27 balls featuring six boundaries.

For GG, Priya Mishra clinched three wickets while Ashleigh Gardner and Deandra Dottin each took two wickets.

"I believe we should keep in mind that this was her first match, and we ought not to be overly critical. She indeed missed having senior players in the team, but looking ahead, the management must carefully evaluate the team’s balance, potentially introducing an extra bowler instead of a batter. Currently, the batting heavily relies on Indian domestic players, necessitating a reassessment of their strategy," Mithali commented on Amul Cricket Live on JioHotstar, reflecting on what Deepti might have done differently.

"Deepti played with a commendable strike rate of over 140 and it was unfortunate that she didn’t receive the support she needed to form partnerships. They did manage a partnership of 40-50 runs, but she sought more assistance from overseas players like Tahlia McGrath or Grace Harris to sustain the innings and add more runs. Despite the circumstances, she worked hard to maintain the momentum for UP Warriorz," she continued.

In their chase, GG's captain Gardner made 52 runs with five fours and three sixes, while Harleen Deol and Deandra Dottin contributed unbeaten scores of 34 and 33 respectively, leading their team to victory with 12 balls remaining.

Gardner was awarded Player of the Match for her all-round display in the game.

Mithali praised Gardner for her consistent performance in the tournament, having scored 79 not out against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the season opener.

"Ashleigh is maintaining her excellent form from the series. In the first match, she was hitting sixes, and today’s innings surpassed her last performance. She formed a vital partnership with Laura Wolvaardt, setting a robust platform for Deandra Dottin to effectively execute her role," the former Indian batter expressed.

Discussing the partnership between Deandra Dottin and Harleen Deol, Mithali remarked, "It was indeed a significant partnership. Harleen capitalized on her opportunity in the middle and crafted another important partnership with Deandra Dottin. Although the runs may not have been substantial, having Dottin at the crease ensures a chance to clinch the match.

"Harleen also executed some remarkable shots against Sophie Ecclestone. Although she began cautiously, her confidence grew as she batted in front of the wicket."