Win Projections to be updated soon
Former Indian cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has shared his concerns about the performances of key Indian batters, Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, in the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. According to Manjrekar, the pitches at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium are proving difficult for India’s top-order stroke players, particularly Verma and Mandhana, who thrive on pace and bounce.
India’s batting struggles were evident in their first two matches. They were bowled out for a mere 102 runs in their opening game against New Zealand, losing by 58 runs. In their second outing against Pakistan, India managed to chase down a modest 108-run target but only after a laborious effort, winning with six wickets and seven balls to spare.
Sanjay Manjrekar said
Manjrekar, speaking on Star Sports, acknowledged the disappointing show with the bat, saying, “I feel the fans will be slightly disappointed with the way they have batted. The batting was very bad against New Zealand. The problem is that the pitch in Dubai does not suit Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana.”
He also explained the technical challenges the duo face on slower pitches: “Mithali Raj mentioned in the pitch report that it will have spongy bounce, so the ball comes slightly slower. That’s not an ideal surface for Shafali and Mandhana because they want pace and score through boundaries.”
India’s loss to New Zealand has made their path to the semi-finals more challenging. With matches remaining against Sri Lanka on October 9 and defending champions Australia on October 13, India must secure convincing wins and hope other results go in their favor to advance in the tournament.
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