WPL: Amanjot Kaur relishes her match-winning knock against RCB
What's the story
Amanjot Kaur, the next big thing in Indian cricket, guided Mumbai Indians to a nail-biting win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on February 21. With 24 runs to get off 17 balls and the lower order under pressure, Amanjot rose to the occasion. She smashed two sixes in the penultimate over of the match, sealing the win for her side. Amanjot slammed a 27-ball 34*.
Career progression
Amanjot's journey to becoming a match-winner
Amanjot's brilliance in the last match was not just restricted to her batting prowess. She also starred with the ball, claiming three wickets for 22 runs, including that of Richa Ghosh and Ellyse Perry. This brilliant performance came after a difficult 2024 season plagued with injuries that had stalled her international career. Despite that, Amanjot has displayed resilience and determination to get back on the field.
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Amanjot speaks about her comeback
After the match, Amanjot thanked the tough phase in her life. She attributed her personal coach Nagesh Gupta and trainer Tanuja for their constant support during her recovery. "Those six to eight months were very crucial for me. Blessed and grateful for that phase to have come in my life," she said after the match. "It felt so great watching Amanjot win the match. So happy that I couldn't sleep last night" Nagesh told The Indian Express.
Early years
Amanjot's early cricketing journey and challenges
Amanjot's love for cricket was sparked at a young age when her father, Bhupinder Singh, made a bat for her after she was left out of a local cricket match. Her early career was a mixed bag, with a stellar T20I debut in South Africa in 2023 followed by an ODI debut later that year. However, injuries in 2024 saw her miss large chunks of the season.
Recovery phase
Resilience during injury recovery
During her recovery, Amanjot dealt with the initial shock of her injuries. "I have never taken fitness lightly. I am not a foodie, so I don't like eating out. So, I never expected that I would get injuries like these," she said. However, with her coach and trainer's support, she utilized this time to work on other aspects of growth. Conversations with fellow cricketers at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) also helped her recovery.
Stats
The all-rounder's WPL and T20I numbers
In 22 WPL matches, Kaur has raced to 122 runs at 17.42. She also boasts a strike rate of 119.60 alongside a high score of 42. With the ball, she has bagged four scalps in seven wickets at 18.25. Meanwhile, in T20Is, she has scored 89 runs at 22.25 while striking at 120.27 in seven innings. Her highest score is 41*. According to ESPNcricinfo, with the ball she owns four wickets at 29.50.