Shafali raring to go for the semifinal against Australia having given the freedom by the team management to play her natural game.
Shafali ‘super ready’ and raring to go against Australia.
Shafali Verma was in Surat a few days ago, competing in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy with the Haryana team. On the day of India’s World Cup semi-final match against Australia on Wednesday, she was speaking to the media after being called up late to replace the injured Pratika Rawal. Playing in a semi-final “was not new to her,” according to Shafali, who was her normal self-assured self. She also stated that she feels “super ready” to play in any position that India requests.
“I was playing domestic cricket and was in good touch,” Shafali said. “Talking about the semi-finals, it’s not something new for me because I’ve played many semi-finals before. It’s just a matter of keeping my mind clear and giving myself confidence. I’ve been in such situations earlier, so it’s nothing new. I’ll keep telling myself to stay calm and believe in myself. So absolutely, I’ll do well, 200%.
“Of course, what happened with Pratika – as a sportsperson, seeing that doesn’t feel good. No one wants any player to go through such an injury. But I believe God has sent me here to do something good.”
Having participated in three T20 World Cups and one ODI World Cup, including a final and a semi-final against Australia, Shafali is no stranger to the big stage. Although Rawal continued to join Smriti Mandhana at the top in ODIs, she battled her way back into the T20I team in June after being dropped from both forms last year.
Shafali acknowledged that he will need some time to get used to the 50-over format after playing the T20s in Surat. Since joining the team, she has trained twice, concentrating on both her defensive style and her signature huge hits.
“Absolutely, I was playing T20s, and as a batter, it’s not easy to switch formats so quickly,” Shafali said. “But we had good practice sessions yesterday and today. I stayed calm and batted well. I tried to attack the bowlers who were in my range. I’ve had long batting sessions over the last two days, and I’m feeling really good because whatever I’m trying is working out. So yes, I’m happy with my touch. It’s looking very good for me.”
While she has built her reputation as a power-hitting opener, Shafali said that she’s ready to adapt to any role the team requires.
“That’s a management call [if they want to play me tomorrow]. But if you ask me, I’m flexible,” she said. “I can play anywhere, not just as an opener or in the middle order. The confidence I have in myself is very important as a sportsperson. So wherever the management wants me to play, I’m super ready.”
Shafali’s lack of consistency raised concerns when she was dropped, but she has since returned to domestic cricket and performed well. She led Haryana to the quarterfinals of the one-day competition the previous season, leading the run charts with 527 runs at a scorching strike rate of 152.31.
She had received a clear message inside the dressing room: play your natural game.
“All the players I’ve spoken to have boosted my confidence a lot, which means a lot to me,” Shafali said. “The coach, captain, and even Smriti [Mandhana] told me that I just need to play my game, there’s no pressure. I just have to play the way I know, without panicking. So yes, I’ve been given a lot of freedom, and I’ll try to respect the good balls and hit the ones in my range.”