Twitter erupts in appreciation as Sajeevan Sajana keeps her cool to help the defending champions over the line in an edge-of-the-seat thriller against DC in the tournament opener of WPL.
The 2nd edition of the tournament kickstarted with a repeat of the Inaugural edition of the WPL final. The clash lived up to its expectations as it had all the thrill and the drama to set the tone for the 2nd edition of the tournament.
The Mumbai Indians skipper Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and opted to bowl first against the Meg Lanning-led side, Delhi Capitals. The Capitals set a 172-run target on the back of impressive performances from Alice Capsey, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Meg Lanning. Wicket-keeper batter Yastika Bhatia and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur anchored the run chase. The match was slipping away from the Mumbai Indians’ grasp after the departure of their skipper Harmanpreet Kaur in the penultimate ball of the run chase.
With 5 runs needed of the last ball Sajeevan Sajana, yet another rising star after Minnu Mani hailing from Wayanad, Kerela stepped out to bat and displayed the nerves of steal on her WPL debut as she shimmed down the track and wacked the ball over the ropes for a maximum with disdain to take the defending champions over the line in a nervy contest. Twitter has erupted in praise for the 29-year-old rising star for holding her nerve under immense pressure.
CRAZYYYYY START to WPL!! 🤩
5 needed in 1 ball and debutant Sajana does this 🫡#CricketTwitter #WPL2024 pic.twitter.com/pGofos3AYk
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) February 23, 2024
💬 “Sajana Sajeevan is the Kieron Pollard of this team”
~ Yastika Bhatia.#CricketTwitter #WPL2024 via: MI Website pic.twitter.com/hxKYJy1Kv5
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) February 24, 2024
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur's message for Sajana 💙 #CricketTwitter #WPL2024 pic.twitter.com/c4qC6UDb1J
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) February 24, 2024
SAJANA SANJEEVAN: Mumbai Indians last ball savior 🏏✨
➡️ Daughter of an auto-rickshaw driver, played with only plastic and coconut padal bats uptil the age of 18
➡️ KCA Player of the year for 2015 and 2017 led Kerala to their first ever All India title in 2018
➡️ Only the… pic.twitter.com/nIz7fdFnIS
— The Bridge (@the_bridge_in) February 23, 2024
Did you know? today's star for MI, “Sanjeevan Sajana”, who seized the spotlight by hitting a six on the last ball, had also acted brilliantly in a film named "Kanaa"? pic.twitter.com/VnjM9dhXyg
— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952_) February 23, 2024
Wow 🔥🔥🔥
That is a story written for a movie that we saw playing out.
Sajana Sanjeevan's name will be talked about for a good amount of time.
What a match. Welcome, WPL 2024.
— archith (@InswinginMenace) February 23, 2024
Her last-ball heroics have impressed the opposition camp as well and the likes of Jemimah Rodrigues, the backbone of India’s middle order, praised her efforts through a story on her Instagram handle which read “The result was not what we hoped for but what a finish by Sajju the debutant! Comes from a humble background, lost almost everything in Kerela floods, walks in when the team requires 1 ball 5 runs, and hits an effortless six! What a story and more over what a player!”.
The Mumbai Indians skipper Harmanpreet Kaur also appreciated her through a story on her Instagram handle which read, “The intent is clear! What a match-winning shot. More power to you girl.”