Shafali Verma made a solid comeback as she rediscovered her spark after a brief interaction with her idol – Sachin Tendulkar. The 21-year old opener was added late into the India squad after Pratika Rawal sustained a serious injury in match against Bangladesh.
She was dropped earlier due to poor form and lack of consistent performances but once she was added in the World Cup squad she made a strong comeback. In the final against South Africa, Shafali scored 87 runs and took two crucial wickets, helping India win its maiden title. Yet, according to the young star, her confidence truly blossomed hours before the final after she met India’s cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar.
“When I saw him (Tendulkar), it gave me an incredible boost,” Shafali revealed after the win.
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“I kept talking to him and he kept giving me confidence. He is the master of cricket, and we keep getting inspired just looking at him.”
“Just seeing Sachin sir before the game made me believe that I could do something special,” Shafali opined.
Shafali also expressed her feeling after winning the World Cup and said that she just stayed calm throughout the match and backed herself.
“(I am) very happy that we won and I cannot express it in words,” she said. “It was difficult but I had confidence in myself that if I stayed calm, I could achieve everything. My mind was clear, and I worked on my plans. Everyone was supporting me, and the seniors told me to just play my own game. That clarity was all I needed.”
