In the first T20I match against Australia Women at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai on Friday, December 9, Anjum Chopra disagreed with the Indian women’s management to start batting with Shafali Verma ahead of Yastika Bhatia.
She took a dig at Team India, commenting that they are playing in the senior international series instead of the U19 World Cup. Shafali has been named captain of India’s U19 women’s team for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
indian women The Australian women were down by nine wickets in the opening T20I of the five-match series on Friday. Sent to bat after conceding a ball, the hosts came on at 172/5.
Shafari was dismissed for a quick-fire 21 off 10 balls, a cameo with two fours and many sixes.Reflecting on India’s failure, Chopra questions move to open up with youth Safari. She said on her YouTube channel:
“Yastika Bhatia should be playing at the top. Shafali Verma should be in the middle. This is not the U19 World Cup, this is senior cricket.”
Chopra admitted she was surprised to see Yastika left out of the Game XI despite her bat being in good shape, Chopra opined:
“I think Yastika Bhatia should start because she is a player in form. But the new management seems to want to keep Shafali in the top job. There is nothing wrong with that, but the fact is that Yastika has not found a place in the starting lineup at all.”
Yastika is the leader of the 2022/23 Senior Women’s T20 Challenger Trophy, striking 203 for India D Women in 134.43 overs in four matches.
‘It’s Not Ripe’ – Chopra on Shafali and Mandana’s Opening Show
Reviewing India’s batting performance in the first T20I, Chopra commented that while openers Shafali and Smriti Mandhana were aggressive, neither looked to be in good rhythm. she says:
“Shafali and Smriti were aggressive at the start, as always, but both batsmen had the wrong timing. Runs were coming, but we didn’t see the best shots. The wickets fell one by one. Jemimah Rodrigues again Lost to Ellyse Perry. Harmanpreet Kaur hit the ball in her signature style, but couldn’t hit the big game.”
Mandhana was sent off for 28 of 22 balls, while Rodrigues fell for a duck. Richa Ghosh (36 off 20) and Deepti Sharma (36 off 15) lifted India above 170, but Beth Mooney (89 off 57) led Australia to victory with nine wickets.
