A big player always steps up in crucial matches, Meg Lanning did just that: Mithali Raj

Former India skipper Mithali Raj heaped lavish praise on Delhi Capitals’ star Meg Lanning following her match-winning hand of an unbeaten 60 off 49 against Mumbai Indians at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday, February 28.

She also acknowledged Shafali Verma’s effort as she slammed a 28-ball 43 in a match-winning 85-run opening partnership with Lanning. The former skipper highlighted that Shafali curbed her natural instincts, taking a “measured” approach towards the start of the innings before going for her free-flowing shots. 

"Every time Meg Lanning and Shafali Verma put together a 50-plus partnership, the team's chances of winning increases significantly. The winning percentage for Delhi Capitals rises with their contributions. Today, while chasing a target of 124, we saw Shafali Verma take a slightly more measured approach initially, which is unlike her usual attacking style. There was a lot of discussion between her and Meg Lanning, especially while facing Shabnim Ismail. However, once she found her rhythm, and Meg Lanning joined in, it was a delight to watch them score from both ends. It was a very convincing win for Delhi Capitals," Mithali said on JioHotstar.

Mithali also commented Lanning and Shafali making a WPL record the most 50-plus partnerships, stating that the duo complements each other well and often kills the game without needing any support from others.

"As batters, they complement each other perfectly, and this highlights how heavily the team relies on them to provide a solid start. Over all three seasons, whenever they haven't been able to build a partnership, Delhi Capitals have struggled, exposing the middle order. However, whenever they have managed to stitch together a partnership, we've rarely seen the middle order in action, which speaks volumes about their impact on the team’s success," she said.

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Speaking of Lanning’s quickfire knock, Mithali said: "A big player always steps up in crucial matches, and today, as both captain and player, Meg Lanning did just that. She understood the significance of this game for Delhi Capitals and played accordingly. The way she executed her shots, especially that exquisite straight drive and on-drive, showcased her class. She is slowly getting back into form, which is a huge positive for Delhi Capitals.

"This also allows Shafali Verma to play with more freedom, knowing her captain is anchoring the innings. Having a leader like Meg Lanning in the middle instills immense confidence in the dugout. Over time, she and Shafali have built an understanding of each other’s strengths, which helps them construct their partnerships effectively. At one point, when Shabnim Ismail came in for her fourth over, we saw Meg walk up to Shafali and advise her against playing any rash shots, emphasizing that this was the last over to navigate carefully. That level of leadership is invaluable," she concluded.