DELHI CAPITALS' VICTORY WAS LARGELY DRIVEN BY SHAFALI VERMA'S AND NIKI PRASAD'S CRUCIAL INNINGS - MITHALI RAJ

(MENAFN- Adfactors PR) Bengaluru, February 17, 2025: Speaking exclusively on Amul Cricket Live on JioHotstar, Mithali Raj shared her thoughts on the high-intensity match between MI and DC: “What can I say? The kind of match we witnessed today was remarkable. Last evening's game was high-scoring, with a chase of 201 and big hits. But today, it was all about intensity. The momentum kept shifting between the teams so frequently that until the last ball, no one could predict the winner.”
Commenting on Niki Prasad’s performance, Mithali Raj said on Amul Cricket Live on JioHotstar “Delhi Capitals' victory was largely driven by Shafali Verma's strong start, but Niki Prasad's crucial 35-run innings was equally significant. When wickets were falling around her, she remained at the crease, providing stability. It was her first game, and coming fresh from the ICC Women’s U-19 World Cup as a winning captain, she stepped into a high-pressure match and handled it with remarkable poise. There must have been nerves, but she fought through them brilliantly. Though we didn’t see much of it, her innings today was mature beyond her years. She had solid support from Alice Capsey and Sarah Bryce. In the end, as the game came down to two runs off two balls, she went for a big shot, which will come with experience. But what she has done today for Delhi Capitals is massive.”
Speaking on Shafali Verma’s performance, Mithali Raj said on Amul Cricket Live on JioHotstar “I think anyone stepping into Shafali Verma's shoes would acknowledge how she has never shown a defensive approach. Right from the second ball, she started scoring runs, playing her shots with her usual flair. That’s just her style. The only way to dismiss her today was to outthink her, and I understand that feeling because I’ve been in that situation myself. At one point, she had too much time and wasn’t sure where to place the ball. Just before her dismissal, the fielding side adjusted their setup, bringing mid-on up and pushing deep square leg back because she had found boundaries there. She instinctively aimed to clear mid-on but ended up playing into the fielder’s hands, resulting in a crucial wicket.”
Former West Indian cricketer Stacy-Ann King commented on Niki Prasad’s brilliant innings on Amul Cricket Live on JioHotstar saying: “We saw what she could do in terms of India Under-19 team. But she didn't have much chance to bat because of G Trisha and of course Kamalini, who were exceptional. After she started off a little shaky, she eventually just played her shots, and it was amazing."
Stacy-Ann King shared her insights on Mumbai Indians' performance on Amul Cricket Live on JioHotstar: “When Harmanpreet spoke, she mentioned that those five balls where MI didn’t bat the full 20 overs were a critical mistake. Even scoring a single run in that phase could have made a difference. This is an opportunity for them to reassess their approach, particularly in handling their spinners. Hayley Matthews picked up key wickets, including Shafali and Sarah, but conceded 15 runs before that. Both teams can take valuable lessons from each other on how they approach their innings and how their bowlers strategize moving forward.”

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