In the lead-up to the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, Indian cricket sensation Shafali Verma opened up about her admiration for Rohit Sharma’s batting style, particularly during the powerplay and Virender Sehwag’s fearless approach.
Known for her explosive performances across all formats, Shafali has made a name for herself as one of the brightest stars in women’s cricket. The 20-year-old continues to dominate the global cricket scene with her exciting talent.
Ahead of the World Cup, Shafali Verma has been vocal about her admiration for Rohit Sharma, India’s men’s team captain. Particularly impressed with his ability to make the most of powerplay overs.
“I would choose India’s Rohit Sharma because the way he utilises the Powerplay is memorable to watch. Even in the World Cup, there are 2-3 innings I can recall. I always feel good watching how he makes the most of the Powerplay,” Shafali said during a Star Sports interaction. This inspiration fuels her ambition to refine her approach and continue contributing to India’s success in the upcoming tournament.
Shafali’s journey in cricket has been nothing short of remarkable, particularly in the longer format. Having played five Tests so far, she has racked up 567 runs with an impressive average of 63.00 and a strike rate of 74.31 Her standout performance includes a double century, making her one of the fastest to reach this milestone in women’s Test cricket.
Shafali’s aggressive batting style often draws comparisons to Virender Sehwag. The young opener embraces this comparison with pride, recognizing the significance of following in Sehwag’s footsteps. “Getting compared to Sehwag sir is a big thing for me. When I started playing cricket, Sachin (Tendulkar) sir and Sehwag sir used to dominate. And yes, I have learned a lot from Sehwag sir, his fearless approach, regardless of which ball of the match it is. I keep following his batting from time to time,” she shared.
While Shafali has left an indelible mark in the Test arena, her contributions in white-ball cricket, especially T20Is, have been equally significant. Since making her debut in 2019, she has played 81 T20Is, scoring 1,948 runs at an average of 25.63 with a commendable strike rate of 130.56.
Her introduction to international cricket came through the Women’s T20 Challenge in 2019, where she represented Velocity at the tender age of 15. Facing some of the world’s best bowlers at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Shafali stunned audiences with her aggressive batting, proving she had what it took to play at the highest level.
In ODIs, Shafali has played 26 matches, amassing 588 runs at an average of 23.52. Though her record in the 50-over format isn’t as prolific as her T20 success, her top score of 71* and four fifties demonstrate her growing maturity in adapting her game to different formats.
One of the most notable aspects of Shafali’s development is how she has learned to refine her game. Early in her career, she was known for hitting almost every ball in an attempt to overpower bowlers. However, as she has grown, both in experience and mental resilience, she has learned the importance of strategy. “Back in 2020, I used to hit every ball. But after a point in time, opponents analyse your game through video analysts, and your game plan becomes obvious. Teams get to know our strengths and weaknesses. I could not perform well in 2023, but I got to learn a lot and my consistency has improved. And in the last four years, I have realised how crucial the mental aspect of the game is,” Shafali explained.
This evolution has been evident in her performances, especially her captaincy during the 2023 U19 T20 World Cup, where she led India women to their maiden ICC title. The young leader’s growth in mental toughness and game awareness has made her not only a dangerous player but also a vital asset for India’s senior team.
India’s senior team will first face New Zealand on October 4, in what promises to be a challenging start to their World Cup campaign. With tough matches against Australia, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka to follow, Shafali and her teammates are keen to build on their recent performances and return stronger than ever.
(Quotes sourced from India Today)
