Pooja Vastrakar’s Winning Performance: Reema Malhotra Reacts

During the third T20I between India and South Africa, Pooja Vastrakar’s exceptional bowling performance caught the attention of cricket fans and experts. Former India leg-spinner Reema Malhotra lauded Vastrakar’s match-winning display, highlighting the bowling all-rounder’s growth and the team’s investment in her development.

Vastrakar’s great achievement

The match, held in Chennai on 9 July, saw India level the three-match series 1-1, with the second match ending in no result. Vastrakar’s impressive figures of 4/13 in 3.1 overs were instrumental in restricting the Proteas to just 84 runs. India then chased down the target comfortably without losing a wicket, with 55 deliveries remaining.

Malhotra’s insights on Vastrakar’s growth

Reema Malhotra emphasised on the Indian team’s dedication towards Vastrakar’s development. She remarked, “The Indian team has invested a lot in her. They have given her a lot of time to prepare. She had some injuries in the beginning but now there is a new Pooja Vastrakar in the picture. She has gained experience and worked a lot on her fitness which is clearly visible.”

Technical Mastery in Pictures

Malhotra particularly praised Vastrakar’s bowling technique, discussing her control and ability to hit the right lengths. “If we talk about bowling, if a bowler knows what length to hit on a particular wicket, you can be a headache for the batters and I think that was visible today. We saw changes in pace, she was hitting length balls and if you are hitting a higher percentage of good balls, your control will look better and that was visible in Pooja Vastrakar’s bowling,” Malhotra added.

Key wickets and tactical brilliance

Vastrakar’s performance included crucial wickets, most notably the dismissal of the dangerous Marizanne Kapp in the powerplay. She followed this up by claiming the wickets of Anneke Bosch, Nadine de Klerk and Eliz-Mari Marx to complete her impressive four-wicket haul. Malhotra identified Vastrakar’s bowling and Smriti Mandhana’s batting as the two biggest positives for India.

World Cup preparations on schedule

Discussing the significance of these performances in the context of India’s preparations for the World Cup, Malhotra said, “Smriti Mandhana’s batting and Pooja Vastrakar’s bowling. If you tick those two boxes, you are already successful in your preparations for the World Cup. They are two important players.” She further emphasised, “Other players are also important, but if Smriti stays at the crease, she doesn’t score 30s or 40s, she scores big and you need an opener like that. Pooja bowls the new ball in the powerplay and at the death, and gives you wickets in the middle overs.”

Vastrakar’s performance against South Africa underscores the depth of talent in the Indian women’s cricket team. As the team continues to prepare for the World Cup, the contributions of players like Vastrakar and Mandhana will be crucial in their quest for glory.

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