Shafali Verma may only be 21 years old, but don’t be fooled by her age when it comes to playing in big games.The right-hander has been part of numerous heartbreaks for India at global tournaments already and knows a thing or two about playing knockout matches..
India’s inability to win crunch games at tournaments has been exemplified by an inability to keep their heads when things got tight, and Thursday presents them with a chance to correct that and enter the final.
Recalled to the setup after Pratika Rawal’s ankle injury ruled her out of the tournament, Verma spoke about how India needed to avoid panicking and keep things simple against Australia on Thursday.
“I’ve played against Australia many times. I know that if we don’t lose early wickets as a batting unit, they start to feel the pressure. As a bowling unit, we’ll look to maintain good lengths, and as batters, we’ll back our strengths. The simpler we keep things, the better it’ll be. The less we panic, the better we’ll perform. So yes, we’ll back ourselves and keep things simple,” she said at the pre-match press conference.
The Haryana batter also spoke about how the management had given her a lot of freedom on her return to the setup, adding that she would look to play on the merit of the ball on Thursday if she got a chance.
“Absolutely, when I joined the team, everyone was very welcoming. I felt really good seeing that. All the players I’ve spoken to have boosted my confidence a lot, which means a lot to me. The coach, captain, and even Smriti 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,” she said.
Open to bat in middle order
The most obvious role for Verma on Thursday would be at the top of the order, but India also have the option of batting her in the middle to lend more depth. The 21-year-old admitted that she was ready to bat in the middle order if the need arose.
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“Absolutely, that’s a management call. But if you ask me – I’m flexible. 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,” she said.
