New Delhi, Oct 20 (NationPress) Former India captain Anjum Chopra has expressed her concerns regarding all-rounder Deepti Sharma's tactics as Team India faced their third straight defeat in the ongoing Women’s ODI World Cup, falling short by a mere four runs in their chase against England on Sunday.

While vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and captain Harmanpreet Kaur showcased outstanding performances with the bat, the loss of Smriti's wicket triggered a collapse, causing India's batting lineup to buckle under pressure.

Although Deepti played a steady innings, she lost her wicket to Sophie Ecclestone while attempting a risky shot towards the boundary. Chopra criticized Deepti’s shot selection, stating that opting for an aerial shot against the England spinner, especially towards the longest boundary, was utterly unnecessary.

“It was practically a run-a-ball situation. One must understand the effort that goes into positioning the team so well. The 125-run partnership between Harmanpreet and Smriti was exceptional. They absorbed the pressure and provided India with control. However, after reaching critical milestones, focus seemed to wane. Smriti's innings from 5 to 50, then from 50 to 85, was executed with complete command. That effort deserved a significant, match-winning century,” Anjum stated on JioStar.

“We discussed this after the last match as well. She scored 80 against Australia and missed a hundred. Perhaps it's the pressure of chasing or the urge to finish the game swiftly. The same applies to Deepti. Why attempt a high-risk shot on the largest boundary against Sophie Ecclestone when it isn't necessary? You already have a boundary in the over and Amanjot at the other end. It was unwarranted. It might just be the additional pressure players place on themselves,” she added.

Despite her criticism of the Indian all-rounder, Anjum also acknowledged Deepti's progress and the positive aspects of the match.

“There are numerous positives to take away. When the team reflects on this, they’ll see that Deepti, Smriti, and Harmanpreet all made significant contributions. Deepti, in particular, has made substantial strides over the past year, excelling in both batting and bowling, along with her growing game awareness.

“While she couldn’t lead India to victory, her ability to manage the innings after Harmanpreet's exit—rotating the strike and avoiding perilous sweep shots—was commendable. The key area that raised concerns was fielding. India likely conceded 20–30 additional runs, and had those been saved, the chase could have been considerably easier,” Anjum concluded.

vi/bc