‘She is one of the finest T20 batters in the world’ – Aakash Chopra lauds Harmanpreet Kaur’s display against Gujarat Giants

Aakash Chopra and Harmanpreet Kaur. (Photo Source: Twitter)

The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023 opener between Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Giants turned out to be an absolute massacre as Harmanpreet Kaur’s side thumped their opponents by a whopping 143 runs. Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra lavished praise on the Mumbai Indian’s skipper after her swashbuckling 65 off just 30 deliveries.

Mumbai Indians didn’t have the best of starts as Yastika Bhatia was dismissed in the third over of the match after a sluggish innings. However, Gujarat Giants couldn’t capitalize on their start as Mumbai’s star-studded middle order rose to the occasion in the season opener.

While Hayley Matthews and Nat Sciver-Brunt steadied the ship for their side with a solid partnership, Mumbai Indians went into overdrive in the last ten overs, thanks to Harmanpreet Kaur’s rollicking half-century. The Indian skipper put on a masterclass of batting, registering 14 boundaries during her blistering knock.

“Gujarat made an amazing start, dismissing Yastika Bhatia at the start but after that, the way Hayley Matthews and then Harmanpreet Kaur played – she put on an exhibition of fours. Cut above the rest. She was caressing the ball. She was putting the ball into gaps and getting fours. She was absolutely stellar. She showed that she is one of the finest T20 batters in the world. She played good sweeps and cuts, and driving was exceptional,” Chopra said in a video shared on his YouTube channel.

It was an absolute annihilation: Aakash Chopra

Harmanpreet’s dismissal in the seventeenth over provided momentary respite for Gujarat Giants as Amelia Kerr took over from her skipper in the latter stages of the innings, smashing 45 runs off just 24 deliveries to take her side to a mammoth score of 207 runs after their 20 overs.

Gujarat’s reply got off the worst possible start as influential skipper Beth Mooney walked off the field due to an injury in the very first over of the chase. Mumbai Indians, much like their batting innings, were all over their opponents, dismissing them for a paltry 64 runs. Aakash Chopra praised the efforts of left-arm spinner Saika Ishaque, who returned with stellar bowling figures of 4/11.

“Amelia Kerr, who is an amazing all-rounder from New Zealand, also batted amazingly well and took the team to 207. When you are chasing 207, they say you need a good start. It couldn’t have been a worse start as Beth Mooney got injured. The wickets kept tumbling one after the other. Saika Ishaque came and picked up four wickets. The batters were coming and going. Ashleigh Gardner was dismissed for a duck. It was an absolute annihilation,” Chopra added.

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