After clinching the ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup as the captain of the victorious Indian team, Shafali Verma is setting her sights on an even bigger prize: the senior T20 World Cup next month in South Africa. Shafali, who is already a well-established star in international cricket, was one of two Indian players eligible to participate in the Under-19 level, the other being Richa Ghosh.
With tears of joy in her eyes, Shafali raised the trophy at Potchefstroom after leading her team to a historic victory in the ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup. Now, at just 19 years old, she is eager to shift her focus to the senior T20 World Cup and bring home another major cricketing title.
When asked if winning the U19 trophy was her sole aim, Shafali confidently responded, “No, the big one also.” She emphasized her commitment to staying focused on the task at hand. Her determination is unwavering as she plans to carry the confidence gained from the U19 victory into the senior setup and strive to win the T20 World Cup at the highest level of international cricket.
Shafali is no stranger to World Cups, having previously represented India in both the T20 (in Australia in 2020) and ODI (in New Zealand in 2022) formats. One of the lasting memories from the T20 World Cup final in Melbourne, where a record 86,174 spectators attended a women’s cricket match, was the image of a 17-year-old Shafali in tears as India finished as runners-up to Australia. This poignant moment serves as motivation for her to aim for a different outcome in the upcoming T20 World Cup in South Africa.
Reflecting on that emotional day in Melbourne, Shafali said, “Melbourne was a very emotional day for me in that final game; we didn’t win the game.” However, as she transitioned to the U19 level, her focus shifted towards winning the U19 World Cup. She encouraged her teammates, emphasizing the importance of winning the Cup. This time, in South Africa, her tears were tears of joy, as they had accomplished their goal. She sees this victory as a significant achievement and an opportunity to continue learning and growing as a cricketer.
While Shafali may not have dominated the U19 World Cup with her batting, she still emerged as the tournament’s third-highest run-scorer, accumulating a total of 172 runs. Her opening partner, Shweta Sehrawat, topped the charts with 297 runs. Shafali acknowledges that she has room for improvement and aims to contribute more runs for India in the future. She sees the U19 World Cup victory as just the beginning of her cricketing journey.
Shafali’s coach at the U19 level, Nooshin Al Khadeer, is pleased that the team’s World Cup triumph was not solely reliant on Shafali’s performance. He highlighted the team’s collective belief as their driving force. Despite a challenging match against Australia, the team regrouped and displayed remarkable resilience. Their simple and effective approach to cricket paid off. The team showcased exceptional talent not only in batting but also in the bowling department, with spinners Parshavi Chopra and Mannat Kashyap among the tournament’s leading wicket-takers.
Shafali Verma’s leadership and determination, combined with a talented and cohesive U19 Indian women’s cricket team, led to their historic victory in the ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup. Shafali’s aspiration to achieve more at the senior level, especially in the upcoming T20 World Cup in South Africa, showcases her hunger for success and her unwavering commitment to Indian cricket.
