Halfway through the ongoing Women’s Big Bash League, Sydney Thunder is leading the table with 11 points after eight games. The struggles of Melbourne Stars and Adelaide Strikers continue, as both teams have just four points each. Meanwhile, some Indian players have maintained their good form in recent matches, while others have struggled to make significant contributions.
Smriti Mandhana – Adelaide Strikers
After a poor start in her first match against Brisbane Heat, Smriti Mandhana bounced back in the next two games. She scored 40 off 25 balls at a strike rate of 160 and stitched a 56-run opening partnership against Melbourne Renegades. In the following game against Hobart Hurricanes, she smashed 51 off 32 balls at a strike rate of 159.37 while chasing a massive target of 192 runs. By the time she got out, the Strikers had reached 67 runs in 7.3 overs. However, the team lost momentum afterwards and ended up losing the match by 28 runs.
In the reverse fixture against the Hurricanes, Smriti struggled to maintain her form, scoring just six runs. Despite this, Strikers managed to win the game, securing only their second victory of the season. So far, Smriti has scored 103 runs in four matches, with an average of 25.75 and a strike rate of 143.05.
Jemimah Rodrigues – Brisbane Heat
The Heat are currently in third position, thanks to back-to-back wins against Sydney Sixers and Melbourne Stars. Jemimah Rodrigues started the competition with consistent performances but faltered against the Sixers, scoring just eight runs. However, she bounced back against Stars with a crucial 45-run knock at a strike rate of 145.16, laying the foundation for a successful chase of 139 runs. So far, in six matches, Jemimah has scored 177 runs at an average of 29.50 and a strike rate of 139.37.
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Shikha Pandey – Brisbane Heat
The 35-year-old veteran all-rounder has been in excellent form with the ball, taking four wickets in her last two games. In eight matches, she has claimed 11 wickets, making her the joint-fifth highest wicket-taker of the tournament. She has been a key player in all phases of the game.
Against Sixers, she dismissed Alyssa Healy and Amelia Kerr during the powerplay. In the match against the Stars, she picked up two crucial wickets in the death overs, showcasing her ability to deliver under pressure.
Yastika Bhatia – Melbourne Stars
After impressive starts with scores of 36 and 57 in her first two games against the Sixers and Hurricanes, Yastika Bhatia has struggled to maintain her form. In her last four games, she has managed only 61 runs, and her strike rate has been notably low. As an opener, her inability to provide consistent and quick starts has become a concern for the team.
Against Heat, she scored just 8 off 10 balls, and in the match against Renegades, she managed 11 off 8 balls while chasing a target of 171. Moving forward, Yastika needs to elevate her performance. An opener’s role is crucial in setting the tone, especially in the powerplay overs, which are key in the shortest format of the game.
Deepti Sharma – Melbourne Stars
The Stars are struggling this season, with only two wins from seven games, placing them in seventh position on the table. One of the key factors for their poor performance has been Deepti Sharma’s lack of impactful contributions, both with the bat and the ball.
Deepti entered the tournament after being named Player of the Series in the three-match ODI rubber against New Zealand at home. However, in five games so far, she has scored just 45 runs and taken only two wickets at an economy rate of 7.82.
Dayalan Hemalatha – Perth Scorchers
After managing only 40 runs in her first four games, things were not going as planned for Dayalan Hemalatha with Scorchers. However, she made a timely comeback against Sydney Thunder, scoring 41 runs at an impressive strike rate of 157.69. Her knock was crucial in helping the team post 171 runs for seven wickets.
Unfortunately, in the reverse fixture against Thunder, she failed to make an impact. After six matches, Dayalan has scored 88 runs at an average of 14.66 and a strike rate of 112.82. As a number three batter, more consistency will be expected from the Indian player in the upcoming matches.
Also Read: Jemimah’s consistency, Shikha’s revival, and Smriti’s slow start: Weekly recap of Indians in WBBL 10