Sanjay Manjrekar: Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 pitches not suiting Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana

The Indian team’s stroke players are not suited to the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 pitches, according to Sanjay Manjrekar. The UAE is the venue for the global event’s ninth edition. The pitches at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, where India has played both of its league matches thus far, are not favourable for hitters who prefer to score runs at will.

Harmanpreet Kaur and company lost by 58 runs when India was bowled out for 102 in their first match against New Zealand. India sputtered their way to a subpar 108-run goal in their next match against archrivals Pakistan, but they eventually prevailed with six wickets and seven deliveries remaining.

Manjrekar, a former Indian cricket player, believes that the batting lineup for the Women in Blue has not lived up to fan expectations thus far in the 10-team competition.

“The batting hasn’t been too impressive. The manner they have batted, I believe, will leave the fans a little let down. Against New Zealand, the batting was awful. Sanjay Manjrekar stated on Star Sports that the issue is that Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana are not suited for the Dubai pitch.

“It will have a spongy bounce, so the ball comes slightly slower, Mithali Raj said in the pitch report. Since Shafali Verma and Mandhana like to move quickly and score through boundaries, that surface isn’t perfect for them. Even if Shafali Verma managed a few runs in the opening five or six overs, she shouldn’t focus solely on fours and sixes. Additionally, Smriti Mandhana is covered by this,” Manjrekar continued.

How is India going to make it to the semi-finals?

Things have become extremely challenging for India following their crushing loss to New Zealand. In order to maintain their chances of making it to the semifinals, they will now need to secure convincing victories. India will now play Sri Lanka, the 2024 Women’s Asia Cup winners, in Dubai on Wednesday, October 9.

On Sunday, October 13, at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah, India will play their final group stage match against the reigning champions, Australia. Regretfully, India will still need other outcomes to go their way even if they win these two games. Australia and New Zealand have had successful starts to their campaigns.

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After one match, each has two points. India and Pakistan are ranked third and fourth, respectively, in the meanwhile. Each of their two games has earned them two points. Sri Lanka has not yet made an impression on the group.