Gujarat Giants' Skipper Reflects on Missed Opportunities in WPL Loss to Mumbai Indians
Post-Match Reflections
After the Gujarat Giants faced defeat against the Mumbai Indians, captain Ash Gardner expressed her disappointment over missed opportunities to dismiss MI's captain, Harmanpreet Kaur. Gardner noted that she could have contributed more as a bowler. Harmanpreet's impressive innings, supported by partnerships with Amanjot Kaur and Nicola Carey, secured MI's second consecutive victory in the WPL, placing them second in the standings. Despite her stellar performance of 71*, Harmanpreet benefited from dropped catches by the Giants' fielders.
'Catches Win Matches'
During the post-match presentation, Gardner remarked, "It's a common saying, but it's true that catches can determine the outcome of matches. We prided ourselves on our fielding in the initial games, but tonight, we couldn't afford to miss chances, especially against top players. We've had three closely contested matches, and unfortunately, we ended up on the losing side this time. Statistically, I haven't fared well against Harmanpreet throughout my international career."
On Her Bowling Strategy
Gardner utilized seven bowlers during the match but only bowled one over herself, conceding 10 runs. Renuka Singh and Kashvee Gautam were the only bowlers to complete their four-over quota. She explained, "As a captain, there's a tendency to underutilize oneself. With eight bowling options available, I felt there were better match-ups at the time. In hindsight, I might have been a better choice, but it's easy to say that after a loss. If we had won, I would have felt my decisions were justified. I could have bowled more, but I believed I wasn't the right match-up then."
Commending the Middle Order
Gardner praised the strength of her team's middle order, highlighting Georgia Wareham and uncapped Indian batter Bharti Fulmali. She stated, "The strength of our team lies in the firepower of our middle order. Fulmali has shown her ability to build her innings and clear boundaries towards the end. We know what Webb (Wareham) can do as well. I believed 193 was a competitive target, but as I mentioned earlier, failing to capitalize on chances can be costly."
The Decision to Retire Out
Regarding the decision to retire debutant Ayushi Soni, who scored 11 runs off 14 balls, Gardner explained, "After our batting innings, I approached Ayushi and informed her it was a team decision. She seemed disappointed, but we needed someone who could score quickly and run well. It was tough for her, especially in her first WPL match, but she contributed to the team. We finished the innings strongly, but it just wasn't our night."
Match Overview
In the match, Gujarat Giants batted first, scoring 192/5 in 20 overs, with notable contributions from Georgia Wareham (43* off 33 balls) and Bharti Fulmali (36* off 15 balls). During the chase, after losing two early wickets, Harmanpreet (71* off 43 balls), Amanjot Kaur (40 off 26 balls), and Nicola Carey (38* off 23 balls) led MI to victory with four balls remaining and seven wickets in hand. This marks MI's eighth consecutive win against the Giants.