Shafali reflects on difficult last year in the wilderness, says that ‘Last year was tough, but I kept working hard’.
Shafali Verma, the opener, talked about the difficulties she had encountered in the previous year on Sunday. She said that constant effort and concentration enabled her to recover and contribute significantly to India’s historic World Cup victory.
The 21-year-old, who was selected to replace the injured Pratika Rawal, won Player of the Final after hitting 87 runs and taking 2 for 36 in India’s 52-run victory over South Africa.
On the eve of the semi-final match against Australia, Shafali was called into the Indian team. Even though she was unable to have much of an influence in that game, she performed well in the final, leading India to a dominant total and then making contributions with the ball.
“The last year was tough for me. I faced many struggles, but I kept working hard and was rewarded by God for my effort,” Shafali told reporters after a felicitation event in Rohtak, Haryana.
“When I joined the team ahead of the semi-final, I was determined to contribute to the World Cup win,” she said. “The final is always a big stage. Initially, I was a bit nervous, but I calmed myself, focused on my strategy, and executed it well. That helped me deliver an all-round performance.”
After an uneven start to the competition, the Indian team achieved history by winning their first worldwide championship. Before making a comeback in the knockout stages, India had dropped three straight league games.
Shafali recognised her family’s unwavering support throughout her quest and frequently cited batting icon Sachin Tendulkar as her role model.
Reflecting on the final, she said, “I tried to stay calm and execute my plans, and things went as expected. The only thought was that we had to give our all in those seven hours for our country.”