India women played their first ODI against England on Sunday and teen sensation Shafali Verma made her ODI debut in this very match. England won the match by a whopping 8 wickets after chasing the target of 202 in only 34.5 overs.
After making a dazzling Test debut with half-centuries in both the innings, which includes her score of 96, the highest score by a women’s test debutant, Shafali Verma stepped out in the dark blue jersey to represent India. She started her innings strongly by hitting 3 boundaries but gave away her wicket to Katherine Brunt in the fifth over.
Shafali Verma and the Day she made her debut across formats 👇#ENGvIND #ENGWvINDW pic.twitter.com/suM7Xgvle3
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) June 27, 2021
While Shafali was on the field, the broadcasters made a mistake that sent the Twitteratis on a frenzy. They goofed up her age by showing it 28 years. The real age of Shafali Verma is 17 years and the age gap of 11 years sent the fans into a crazy state and the memes started to make their way on social media.
While some people started asking the broadcasters if they were drunk at the time, others said that they were showing 28 because she plays like a 28-year-old experienced player. Some posted screenshots of ESPN showing Shafali Verma’s real age.
Shafali’s age has shown 28!!! 😑🤣🤣 What is this!#ENGvIND
— Ritwika Dhar (@RituD307) June 27, 2021
Before the game, Mithali Raj said in an interview that she wants the youngster to play without any pressure, this match being her debut match, and was excited to see her play.
“That’s how she plays, her strength and style of batting. There will be times when she gives us a head start. She’s a young kid, she’ll also learn to build an innings. As a captain, I want her to enjoy her style of playing. If we lose early wickets, we as middle order are there to rebuild, or if we get a good start, take the momentum forward. We have the batting depth to do that,” said Raj.
India will play their next ODI against England on the 30th of June at The Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton and hopefully there we will get to see a long, high-scoring inning from the bat of Shafali Verma.
Here’s how fans reacted on Twitter:
Playing like 28 year experienced player so it’s showing 😂😂
— ಕನ್ನಡ 🏏CRICZONE 🏏 (@kannadaCriczon) June 27, 2021
Umm sky cricket, Shafali is 17 not 28
— Boondi (@Karaboondi) June 27, 2021
@SonyTen1HD1 @BCCIWomen @TheShafaliVerma Shafali Verma is 28 old as per sony ten1 commentators ,please do fact check she is just 17 yr old gem. pic.twitter.com/7VNUribN3B
— ajaybaviskar (@baviskarajay) June 27, 2021
.@SkyCricket – on the screen it said Shafali Verma was 28.
She’s only 17 and it’s pure madness that someone can be so good so young 🤯🤯🤯🤯
— Women’s Cricket Chat 🎙🏏 (@WCricketChat) June 27, 2021
@SonyTen1HD1 in today’s 1st odi match between india women & eng women …you showed shafali verma age as 28…and commentator mentioned that ..please correct it she is just 17 years old great Indian talent …
— srinivas.rohit (@RohitSeena45) June 27, 2021
Sony people are drunk or what 😭 Showing Shafali’s age as 28
— Udit (@udit_buch) June 27, 2021