"I’ve always felt that Harmanpreet Kaur should bat at No. 3" - Anjum Chopra
Former India Women's captain Anjum Chopra feels current skipper Harmanpreet Kaur should bat at No. 3 as she has the strokes to control the game. She pointed out that India can get more out of their skipper if she bats higher in the order, adding that as of now, she seems to be coming in and swinging the bat around.
Harmanpreet has a terrific record in white-ball cricket for India. In 133 ODIs, she has smashed 3565 runs at an average of 37.52, with six hundreds and 18 fifties. In T20Is, the 35-year-old has slammed 3426 runs in 173 matches, with one hundred and 12 half-centuries.
In an interview with news agency PTI, Chopra shared her thoughts on the Indian captain's batting position. She said (as quoted by The Times of India):
“I’ve always felt that Harman should play at No 3. I’ve told her also. But of course, depending upon the scenario, and, every player’s comfort is (also) there.
“She is one of those players, who can control the game and will have more time, rather than coming in later and then swinging her bat. Why reduce the number of deliveries?,” the 47-year-old added.
Harmanpreet has played only one ODI while batting at No. 3. She has batted at the one-down position 18 times in T20Is, scoring 298 runs at an average of 21.28, with a best of 48.
"They were not challenged" - Chopra on Harmanpreet-led India losing Asia Cup 2024 final
Under Harmanpreet, India dominated the Women's Asia Cup in Dambulla. They cruised into the final by winning all their three group matches as well as the semifinal against Bangladesh.
The Women in Blue were, however, stunned by hosts Sri Lanka in the final. Reflecting on the shocking loss, Chopra opined that India lost the summit clash because they were not challenged in the tournament heading into the final.
“Even if they have won this Asia Cup, it would have been like ‘oh, we are a better team’. But because they didn’t, they got a wake-up call and I am hoping it is a wake-up call. Not in a bad way but in a good way,” Chopra said in the same interaction.
“They were not challenged and whenever they were, it was okay, it wasn’t like digging in deep to come out victorious. When Sri Lanka posed a challenge to them, especially after winning against Pakistan (in the semifinal), they were a team on a high,” she added.
Batting first in the Women's Asia Cup final, India put up 165-6 on the board. Sri Lanka chased down the target in 18.4 overs with eight wickets in hand.