Guwahati: While Deepti Sharma rightly earned the Player of the Match award for her stellar all-round display, pace-bowling all-rounder Amanjot Kaur was a very close second. Deepti’s steady knock of 53 from as many balls was crucial when India found themselves struggling at 124/6. However, it was Kaur who stepped into the aggressor’s role, smashing her maiden ODI World Cup half-century on her debut in the 50-over format. Beyond her bat, Kaur also impressed with the ball, sharing the new ball with rookie Kranti Gaud in the absence of pace spearhead Renuka Singh, and finishing with figures of 1/37 from 6 overs.
Amanjot’s fearless batting ignited the spirits of the crowd in Guwahati, especially given the recent somber mood following Zubeen da’s untimely passing. But her talent isn’t limited to the field. Off the pitch, she’s equally captivating, effortlessly delivering witty punchlines that had journalists laughing during the post-match press conference, well past midnight.
“You can’t say India was in trouble. I was yet to bat,” she quipped with a grin when asked about India’s precarious situation at 124 for 6. She continued, “You can’t jump to conclusions so quickly. Fifty overs is a long game; the first 10 overs might not go our way, favoring the opposition, but the next 10 can certainly turn in our favor. We’ve won Day 1; hopefully, we’ll have eight more good days until the final.”
With another burst of laughter, she added, “It is said that a wounded lion takes a step back only to take a big leap! You guys will make me famous for my one-liners!”
Her absence from the Australia ODI series at home earlier this month had been a major talking point. “I wanted to be fresh for World Cup,” she stated candidly. “I had a discussion with the coaches and explained that I don’t feel comfortable giving only 80-90% when I play for India. It’s either 100% or nothing.”
Despite being dropped thrice in the past, Amanjot doesn’t see it as bad luck, especially after overcoming a significant injury. “I believe that year off was a blessing. You can view an injury as a setback, but in those months, I learned more than I did in my entire six-year career. There’s no such thing as bad luck. If I don’t score runs tomorrow, then you’ll ask — ‘Where did the good luck go?’” the 25-year-old Punjabi player remarked with a wide smile.
When questioned about her fearless approach, Amanjot explained, “If I had played slowly and gotten out, then you would have criticized me for wasting so many balls and not scoring. At least with my approach, that ball won’t be wasted for the next batter. Ultimately, you need to put up a score to defend.”
Deepti Sharma, reflecting on the match, highlighted her 103-run partnership with Amanjot as the crucial turning point. “That partnership with Amanjot was indeed the turning point. We aimed for a long stand and executed it perfectly. There was no pressure on me at all because I’m accustomed to these types of situations. On this pitch, I trust my fundamental bowling and focus on hitting stump to stump. The first match always sets the tone, and there are many positives to take from this game.”
Sri Lanka’s bowler Inoka Ranaweera also shared her thoughts after her impressive 4/46 spell from nine overs. “As a team, many good things happened,” she noted. “We bowled well first, and our batting also saw a good partnership. That’s a positive aspect as we continue to move forward.”