Speaking exclusively on Amul Cricket Live on JioHotstar, cricket analyst Natalie Germanos lauded the Gujarat Giants’ disciplined bowling performance, stating:
“After posting a big total, Gujarat Giants would have felt confident, but they also had the bitter memory of scoring 200 against RCB and still losing. Given that history, they could have approached their bowling tentatively, but instead, they remained aggressive.”
Germanos credited Ashleigh Gardner for her smart captaincy, particularly in managing bowling changes effectively. She started with the seamers to capitalize on early movement before introducing the spinners at the right time. Germanos highlighted how Gujarat’s spinners have been consistent throughout the tournament and adapted well to conditions, giving them the upper hand over UP Warriorz.
Mithali Raj Dissects UP Warriorz’s Batting Collapse
In contrast, cricket legend Mithali Raj provided a sharp analysis of UP Warriorz’s underwhelming batting performance. She pointed out that chasing 187 runs was always going to be a challenge, and UP Warriorz struggled from the very first over.
“They introduced a new batter, Georgia Voll, while retaining their opening pair of Grace Harris and Kiran Navgire. Losing Kiran in the first over, followed by Georgia, meant two crucial wickets fell early, adding immense pressure on the middle order.”
Raj emphasized that UP Warriorz’s powerplay was disastrous, losing four wickets and failing to build partnerships. Despite a solid pitch for batting, the middle order failed to step up, continuing their inconsistent performance throughout the tournament. She highlighted how even Grace Harris, one of UP’s key batters, struggled to gain momentum, ultimately leading to their downfall.
Germanos on Gujarat Giants’ Tactical Superiority
Germanos further elaborated on how Gujarat Giants outperformed UP Warriorz in both their game plan and execution. Despite losing the toss, Gujarat played like the stronger team.
“They made very few mistakes, whereas UP Warriorz had lapses in the field and struggled with shot selection while batting. Gujarat Giants got their team selection right and executed their tactics efficiently.”
She also mentioned that the match indicated a more balanced pitch for upcoming games, which could influence future strategies for other teams in the tournament.
Mithali Raj Criticizes UP Warriorz’s Poor Shot Selection
Mithali Raj did not hold back in her critique of UP Warriorz’s poor decision-making with the bat. She pointed out several tactical errors:
- Kiran Navgire misjudged the pitch conditions, playing a loose shot in the very first over.
- Georgia Voll, playing her first match, completely misread the delivery that dismissed her.
- Vrinda Dinesh and Grace Harris attempted extravagant shots too early in their innings, leading to their quick dismissals.
- Beth Mooney’s controlled approach was highlighted as a stark contrast, with Raj stating that Mooney focused on playing straight and avoiding unnecessary risks.
“If you take a lesson from Beth Mooney’s innings, you don’t need to play across the line or attempt extravagant shots on a true batting wicket. Mooney timed her boundaries perfectly and rarely mistimed anything, unlike UP Warriorz’ batters.”
Upcoming Clash: UP Warriorz Vs Mumbai Indians
With UP Warriorz now facing Mumbai Indians on March 6, the team will need to rethink their approach if they want to stay competitive in the TATA WPL 2025. Will they be able to bounce back? Catch all the action LIVE on Star Sports Network and JioHotstar.
