Cricket analyst and commentator Aakash Chopra has criticized the Gujarat Giants’ decision to bat first in their Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023 loss to the UP Warriorz. In a video review of the match shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra questioned the Giants’ logic in choosing to set a target, particularly in light of the wet conditions at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
Despite posting a respectable score of 169/6, the Giants failed to defend their total, with the Warriorz securing a thrilling three-wicket victory with just one delivery to spare. Speaking about the match, Chopra lauded the performances of Harleen Deol, Ashleigh Gardner, and Dayalan Hemalatha for taking the Giants to a competitive total.
Also Read: Checkout the pitch report of today's WPL match between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore
However, he also expressed his surprise at the Giants’ decision to bat first, given the wet conditions and the fact that the opposition had a strong spin attack. Chopra suggested that the Giants’ previous loss to the Mumbai Indians (MI) in which they were bowled out for just 64 runs may have influenced their decision to bat first.
Chopra also praised Kim Garth’s early wickets, which had initially put the Giants in a strong position. However, he highlighted the impressive performances of Kiran Navgire and Grace Harris, who helped the Warriorz pull off a nail-biting victory.
Concluding his review, Chopra observed that the UP Warriorz could be a formidable force if their batting continues to excel, given their strong bowling lineup. Meanwhile, the Gujarat Giants’ woes continue, having now suffered two consecutive defeats.