"We might play up India-Pakistan women's match but it was a one-sided contest" - Anjum Chopra on Women in Blue's win in IND vs PAK 2024 Asia Cup clash
Anjum Chopra has noted that the India-Pakistan 2024 Women's Asia Cup clash didn't live up to the pre-game hype as usual. She added that the Women in Blue lose to their neighbors only if they play badly.
India bowled Pakistan out for a paltry 108 after Nida Dar opted to bat first in a Group A game in Dambulla on Friday, July 19. Harmanpreet Kaur and company then gunned down the target with seven wickets and 35 deliveries to spare to complete an emphatic win.
In a video shared on her YouTube channel, Chopra noted that India registered an almost customary 'one-sided' win.
"We enjoy a lot in playing up India vs Pakistan in Asia Cup or ICC tournaments but the fact of the matter is, which was reminded once again, that we might play up India-Pakistan women's match but it was a one-sided contest. I am saying a huge thing but I feel Pakistan win if India play very badly," she said (2:45).
The former India captain pointed out that Pakistan's batting floundered once they lost a few early wickets.
"Don't feel bad but with the sort of performance I saw once again, I felt that despite having such a good batting order, they didn't have an idea at all about how runs could be scored, which players would capitalize at which stage, and when you would accelerate. They totally collapse once two or three wickets fall at the top," Chopra elaborated.
Sidra Amin (25 off 35), Tuba Hassan (22 off 19), and Fatima Sana (22* off 16) were the only Pakistan players to make a decent contribution with the bat. While Deepti Sharma (3/22) was the most successful Indian bowler, Renuka Singh, Pooja Vastrakar, and Shreyanka Patil picked up two wickets apiece.
"How much will the bowlers be able to defend when you don't have runs on the board, especially against Shafali and Smriti?" - Anjum Chopra
![Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma stitched together an 85-run opening-wicket partnership. [P/C: BCCI]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/84423-17214589479134-1920.jpg?w=500)
Anjum Chopra noted that the Pakistan bowlers had an uphill task to defend a below-par target, especially against the opening pair of Shafali Verma (40 off 29) and Smriti Mandhana (45 off 31).
"Pakistan had more options in bowling than India but how much will the bowlers be able to defend when you don't have runs on the board, especially against Shafali and Smriti? I feel the team is missing exposure to international cricket or leagues. It was an extremely one-sided contest," she said in the same video (3:40).
While praising India's bowling, the cricketer-turned-commentator opined that the seven-time Asia Cup champions should play an additional bowler in place of Dayalan Hemalatha, with either Jemimah Rodrigues or Harmanpreet Kaur batting at No. 3.
"The Indian spinners dominated once again. However, five bowlers, I still feel we are a bowler short. When Shafali and Smriti open and Dayalan Hemalatha comes at No. 3, I still feel whether this batting order is correct. I believe Jemi or Harman should come at No. 3 and an extra all-rounder or bowler should play in this team, whether it's Arundhati Reddy or a spinner," Chopra elaborated.
Hemalatha scored an 11-ball 14 at No. 3 in Friday's game. Although several cricket experts have urged India to bat Jemimah at that spot, the think tank potentially wants to play the Mumbaikar at No. 5 to lend experience to the lower-middle order.