Shafali is currently taking part in the Senior Women’s One-Day Challenger Trophy in Chennai, where she has led Team A to the final. She is the leading scorer in the competition after accumulating 388 runs in four matches at an average of 97.00 and a strike rate of 146.96. This includes scores of 115 off 70 balls, 87 off 58, 95 off 65 and 91 off 71.
“Feeling very good,” Shafali said after smashing a hundred at MA Chidambaram Stadium on Monday. “First of all, the team is winning, that is a very big thing. So yes, all I am thinking is how much more I can build on and play [the] long innings.
“As a player, it is our job to give our best for the team and fulfill the needs. That is what I try, to contribute and help the team win. And yes, if I play long innings, as you can see, team is winning.”
Shafali conceded that she hasn’t changed her approach or technique heading into the domestic tournaments, but has focused on converting her starts and building her innings. She also revealed that the message from the India team management was clear: “Believe in your batting”.
“As you all know, my starts are good but building an innings has been an issue,” Shafali said. “But now, I am focusing on how to get those singles, how to build the innings, how to do well for the team. That is what I am trying to do.
“I think this is my job, to do well for the team. I know I am dropped from the [India] team, but it is my job to play well for the team [whichever I play for]. And now, my focus is on the Challengers and I want to do well in the final and win the trophy [on Wednesday].
“They [India team management] just said ‘believe in your batting, believe in your strength’. They are very chill, very good. They are backing me, so yes. Every innings starts from zero. For the final also, the innings will begin on zero and, as I know, the team needs me a lot in the batting. So that is what I am trying, to try and build the innings well and win the trophy.”
Both the one-day Challenger Trophy and the Ireland series will conclude on Wednesday with the focus soon shifting to WPL 2025. As of now, India’s next international assignment will be the tour of England in June-July. Will Shafali’s glorious domestic run be enough to get her back into the scheme of things when the white-ball squads for that series are picked?
