Birthday Special: Shafali Verma – A powerhouse of talent
17 years of age, boyish charm and the firepower of a seasoned professional. With her ridiculous fearlessness, India’s Shafali Verma is already making waves on the international stage. And it has reflected in the way she grabbed every opportunity that has come her way.
The sheer brutality of her batting strokes apart, Verma’s confidence in her own abilities is signalling the ushering in of a new dawn in women’s cricket. That she’s only 19 matches old is hardly a matter of concern.
Lahli: Where it all started
It is no surprise that young Shafali has idolised Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar ever since she was a kid. In 2013, Tendulkar played his last Ranji Trophy game at Lahli, a quaint village in Haryana’s Rohtak district. That day in itself was a significant one as the legend signed off with a memorable win for Mumbai. His teammates then carried Tendulkar on their shoulders and took a final lap around the Chaudhary Bansi Lal Stadium, while his fans watched his swansong with moist eyes.
Among those fans was the nine-year-old Shafali, hopping on her father’s shoulders and chanting ”Sachin, Sachin”. Who knew that six years later, Verma would break her own idol’s long-standing record of the being the youngest Indian to score a fifty in international cricket?
The reason I took up this game was because of Sachin sir. My whole family has not just idolised but literally worshipped him. Today is a special day for me that I got to meet my childhood hero. It was a dream come true for me. ? @sachin_rt pic.twitter.com/J36oiWxVRD
— Shafali Verma (@TheShafaliVerma) February 10, 2020
From a disguised boy to a Legend in the making
Young Shafali didn’t just get enrolled in cricket academies disguised as a boy but also smacked the Under-19 boys to all parts of the ground. Former Haryana opener and ex-state team coach Ashwani Kumar, Shafali’s coach since the last four years, said he was ‘shocked’ to see her batting style. It was Kumar who got her to play with the boys since the girls couldn’t match Verma’s prowess.
With a strong bottom hand, Shafali has a penchant for big shots and packs an extra punch in them, typically evoking the ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from those watching her bat. It is her approach that has added a dash of aggression to the Indian women’s team. With a few experienced players in the side, Shafali has the license to go all guns blazing at the top. Yet, the teenager is cautious, carefully rotating the strike and striking them big when needed. There’s a certain method to her madness. It’s not impulsive. It’s calm, it’s calculated.
