Mumbai,jan 23
Former Indian cricketer Saba Karim expressed his thoughts on the 2024 champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) impressive run in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), which saw them be the first to secure the playoffs spot with five wins in a row despite the absence of star Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry.Saba was speaking to the media during the ‘Media Day’ organised during the ongoing WPL by JioStar. Perry, the 2024 season’s ‘Player of the Tournament’ with 347 runs and seven wickets, had set off panic alarms for the Red and Gold franchise by withdrawing from the season due to personal reasons. Indian all-rounder Sayali Sathghare was announced as her replacement and has impressed with the ball so far.Speaking during the interaction, Saba was asked if he was surprised by RCB’s performances despite Perry’s absence, and he feels that the introduction of Nadine de Klerk as an all-rounder has made up for Perry’s absence.”Not surprised, but I am pleased that they have been able to fill the huge void left by Perry. I think it is because of the introduction of Nadine de Klerk that they have been able to do so (deliver fine performances). Because Klerk is a lower middle-order batter and delivers her four overs as well with the ball, RCB have been able to rework their strategy.””And so you see Smriti Mandana and Grace Harris at the top, and they have brought in Gautami Naik now to fill in that crucial number three, number four slot. Then they have Georgia Voll, who came in the last two games at number three.
