New Delhi, Jan 21 (NationPress) Former Indian captain Mithali Raj praised the recent victory of Delhi Capitals against Mumbai Indians and emphasized the impactful innings played by captain Jemimah Rodrigues under duress. She also examined the challenging path that MI faces against the formidable Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

DC achieved a seven-wicket victory over MI in the 13th match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) on Tuesday, marking the defending champions' fourth loss in the tournament.

“This victory is crucial for Delhi Capitals, particularly for Jemimah Rodrigues. As we discussed in the pre-show, it was vital for her to score runs, and she rose to the occasion even after losing partners,” Mithali remarked during an interview with JioStar.

“She built essential partnerships with Laura Wolvaardt and later with Marizanne Kapp. It was a delight to see her play her natural game on such a challenging wicket. I had previously mentioned that I expected her to score runs here, and she did just that. She took her time upon arrival, played her signature drives, and subsequently unleashed with cuts, scoop shots, and reverse sweeps.

“Although she initially misplayed her first reverse sweep, her second attempt resulted in a boundary, which was critical for the run-rate. She adeptly targeted the shorter boundary and was cognizant of the bowlers’ field placements. She managed intense pressure and importantly remained at the crease to lead her team to victory,” she added.

The triumph for DC was significantly bolstered by Rodrigues’ composed, unbeaten 51, propelling them from the last position on the table into a tie with four points, trailing RCB, who have already qualified.

DC’s chase of 155 runs had a contrasting start, with Shafali Verma and Lizelle Lee racing to 57 without loss during the powerplay. However, momentum slowed during the middle overs as boundaries became scarce, resulting in the quick dismissal of both openers. Rodrigues then assumed command, steering the innings through a tense period alongside Laura Wolvaardt. After the South African captain faced an unfortunate dismissal, DC's skipper accelerated towards the end, hitting crucial boundaries including a significant six.

Ultimately, Rodrigues adeptly guided DC to victory, finishing with an unbeaten score of 51 as Kapp struck the winning six off Nat Sciver-Brunt, marking a pivotal win for Delhi Capitals.

Discussing the partnership between Lee and Rodrigues, Mithali expressed, “I was quite impressed with both players. This wicket is not conducive to immediate big shots, yet they managed to find boundaries effectively. The bowlers for Mumbai Indians were somewhat negligent, as many deliveries from nearly every bowler were directed down the leg side, which the batters exploited well.

“Lizelle Lee and Shafali Verma capitalized effectively during the powerplay, making it seem as if they didn't need to run hard for singles. The recent games have shown that this is the kind of start Delhi Capitals have been pursuing in the powerplay, which significantly contributed to their victory.”

On the upcoming challenge for Mumbai Indians against the undefeated RCB, Mithali stated, “RCB has showcased consistent form since the tournament's outset, winning five matches consecutively. Mumbai Indians now face RCB, a team they have already encountered defeat against, indicating the tough challenges ahead.”