Know everything about Sajeevan Sajana who hit last ball six to take Mumbai Indians home in WPL 2024 opener

After the opening game of the Women’s Premier League 2024 (WPL), Sajeevan Sajana emerged as the Hero for the defending champions, Mumbai Indians. In the game against the Delhi Capitals, MI won the toss and chose to bowl first. After picking the wicket of Shefali Varma early, the defending champions didn’t have much of a success. The likes of Alice Capsey (75), Jemimah Rodrigues (42), and Marizanne Kapp (16*) helped the team reach 171/5.

In reply, the WPL holders had a poor start as they lost Hayley Matthews on the second ball of the innings. However, India internationals, Harmanpreet Kaur and Yastika Bhatia kept the team in the game with individual fifties. However, the former got out when the team needed five off two balls. It all came down to Sajana, who came out to bat and needed a six to win. The right-hander, making her WPL debut, hit a six against Capsey to win the game.

“Sajana has been smashing sixes throughout the practice sessions and she showed what she is capable of (tonight). We had depth in our batting, and because of Sajana, I am standing here (smiles),” MI skipper Kaur said after the game.

A brief look at Sajeevan Sajana

The Kerala player was born on 4th January 1995 in Mananthavadi, Wayanad. Her father used to be a rickshaw driver. Before her WPL debut, she represented the Kerala, South Zone, and India A teams. Sajana is the second cricketer from the Kurichiya tribe to enter WPL after India and Delhi Capitals player Minnu Mani. Sajana’s journey started with leading Kerala’s under-23 team to the Twenty-20 Super League title in 2019. In the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy 2023, she shined, scoring 134 runs in 7 innings and claiming 6 wickets with precise bowling.