"We have a Bumrah, Siraj and Shami (in men’s team)" - Anjum Chopra reckons India Women's bowling a concern
Former India Women's captain Anjum Chopra feels that the Women in Blue's current bowling attack is a cause for concern. Pointing out that the men's team has the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, she opined that the women's team do not have enough options as of now due to injury and form issues.
India Women went down to Sri Lanka Women in the 2024 Women's Asia Cup final in Dambulla last month. Chasing a target of 166, Sri Lanka romped home in 18.4 overs, losing only two wickets as India's bowlers failed to make any kind of impact.
In an interview with news agency PTI, Chopra lamented the lack of resources in India Women's bowling line-up at present. She said (as quoted by The Print):
“Look, we have a Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami (in men’s team). When we have these bowlers around, we boast of a bowling lineup like no one in this world and this wasn’t achieved overnight."
“I’m not saying that overnight we will have these kind of quality bowlers in the women’s team as well. We are playing with only five bowlers. Now that one bowler has a bad day, we are challenged,” the 47-year-old added.
The former India captain attributed the current scenario concerning the bowling department to multiple factors. Chopra elaborated:
“Maybe we don’t have the options. Maybe because players are injured, they are not there. Maybe the skill level has dropped for all those players who are injured or whether they’ve dropped off the radar. We do have a good bowling line-up but we don’t have a penetrative bowling line-up."
Deepti Sharma was the only bowler to claim a wicket for India in the 2024 Women's Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka. Others like Renuka Thakur Singh were impressive earlier in the tournament but were lackluster in the final.
"Jemimah Rodrigues should have been there" - Chopra on India A team selection for Australia A series
Chopra also raised questions over the absence of big names from the Indian line-up for the ongoing series against Australia ‘A’. Pointing out that an experienced campaigner like Tahlia McGrath is leading the Australian side, she commented in the same interaction:
“We’ve not done well in Australia. India A is playing there. Meghana Singh is playing, who is not considered (for selection) even when she’s around Indian team. (Then) why is she playing there?”
“Why is Titas Sadhu not a part of this? Why is Sobhana Asha not a part of India A? I thought Jemimah Rodrigues should have been there in this team playing in Australia. Why is she not there? “(Those who have) just stepped out of the South African series and have not gone for ‘The Hundred’," Chopra added.
Australia A thumped India A 3-0 in the T20I series. The hosts have also taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.