Shafali Verma turns 19 today and on the eve of the finals of the ICC U19 World Cup 2023, speaking to Raunak Kapoor of ESPN Cricinfo, she reflected on how it has been a good feeling to be in the finals of this prestigious World Cup and that she expects everyone in the team to give their 100 percent. The loss against Australia in the Super Six hurt the team massively and she dwelt on how they had sleepless nights and it was after some reflection and strategizing that the mood in the team camp was much better.
While also talking about England and their assessment, she opined that England is blessed with good and quality all-rounders and she asserted that “We (India) will look to back their strengths” and that they will stick to their basics and not try something diametrically different. She lauded the England team as they too made it to the finals on the back of impressive performances and that they “have been doing the right things” and reiterated on enjoying each other’s performances.
Skipper Shafali Verma has a special demand for her birthday gift😃#CricketTwitter #U19T20WorldCup 📸Getty pic.twitter.com/rtEBLx2lUh
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) January 28, 2023
She spoke on how “backing the players is important” and while reflecting on the team environment, she said that Nooshin al Khader, the Head Coach for Team India has been a crucial cog in the wheel for India and has made the players comfortable, giving them the space to come on their own. What is all the more remarkable about her is how she has given clear roles to everyone and that clarity has helped massively and also informs the players beforehand about their selection and gives them the time to prepare accordingly for the match is what the skipper appreciates about the coach. She also shared candidly how she has contributed to creating a healthy and positive team environment.
On a lighter note, when asked about her birthday coinciding with the World Cup, she said when she joined the U-19 team her only goal was to win the elusive trophy and that for her would be the ideal birthday gift.
I am a first year postgraduate student pursuing a MA in Media and Communication Studies at Christ University, Bengaluru. I am a podcaster, blogger and an avid cricket fan. When not glued to cricket matches, you can find me submerged in books and thinking about cricket all the time.
