Women's WT20 2018: Remarkable what Harmanpreet Kaur is doing for women's cricket, says Sanjay Manjrekar

The former India batsman also talked about the rise in popularity of the beautiful Women's game.

Harmanpreet has been outstanding for India | Getty

Praising the Indian T20I skipper for her astonishing exploits with the bat, former batsman and famous commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has said that Harmanpreet Kaur has been absolutely magnificent and remarkable for women's game at the highest level.

Kickstarting the marquee event with an outstanding knock of 103 off 51 balls in India's fantastic campaign opening win over New Zealand by 34 runs, the explosive right-hander has scored at a strike-rate of 185.07 in the tournament, where she is the fourth highest run-getter so far.

Impressed by it, Manjrekar, who is commentating in the Caribbean, told Hindustan Times, “As far as Indian cricket is concerned, there is the tremendous ability in the ranks. Harmanpreet Kaur is immense, she is truly a great player in the sense that even other countries will be amazed by what she does on the cricket field,”

“Earlier too Indian cricket had players who were brilliant, there is no doubting Mithali’s run-making abilities and the way she has carried Indian cricket, but Harmanpreet’s approach to the game is astounding.”

“See, I had seen her around three years back at the CCI when she was in the team as an all-rounder. A batsman who could chip in with the ball. But, then she always had the game, her batting was always erect," Manjrekar assessed and analysed, "Her balance at the crease was impeccable, and she had the trust that she could clear the boundaries. So, the biggest change has to be the confidence and she has always been street smart."

"She assesses the conditions in a very astute manner and this has surely helped. She never had to make an effort to play these big strokes, it is just an extension of her basic game,” he affirmed.

Sanjay also reflected at the rise in popularity of women's cricket and stating that the increase in viewership is led significantly by better player ability and connect with the fans, he emphasized, “For any sport to survive, it is important they have the fan connect, they have people following them. This has happened now and the results are showing. This, and also fitness and the power game, these entities have bolstered women’s cricket,”

“Now there are four to five players who can hit the ball across the ropes. When they are running between the wickets or fielding, the fitness stands out, especially for the stronger teams," and signed off by saying, "For a viewer, to make the transition between men’s and women’s cricket is far more seamless now."

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 17 Nov, 2018

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