‘Technique is more important than power’

Even as batting in Twenty20 cricket increasingly appears to suit the style of clean hitters,former India captain Anjum Chopra isn’t giving it all to the blazing blades,saying technically sound players have the upper hand in the game’s shortest version. She picks the examples from Indian Premier League runners-up Bangalore Royal Challengers,who finished second-last in 2008.

“The Royal Challengers team in the IPL,once called a Test side,performed so well in the recent edition mainly due to the efforts from South African Jacques Kallis and Rahul Dravid,” Anjum said,adding,“I think,in women’s T20 cricket also the technically sound cricketers will be successful.”

“I understand that women cricketers may not play powerful shots like Yusuf Pathan,but technically sound cricketers will certainly have plenty of opportunities in the format,” she added.

The upcoming women’s World T20 Championships,which will be hosted in England parallely with the men’s edition,will give women’s cricket a new stage,feels the veteran of 12 Tests,116 ODIs and a T20.

“This is going to be a big opportunity for women’s cricket as the World Championship is being held side by side the men’s tournament. The women’s event will also get enough limelight during the event which will be a launching pad for women’s cricket,” the 32-year-old said.