Shafali Verma: From witnessing Sachin’s final Ranji match to becoming India’s youngest T20I debutant

Batswoman Shafali Verma made history during India Women’s first T20I against the South African team. Making her debut at the precocious age of 15, she became the second-youngest player to don the Indian jersey. Though she failed to get off the mark, getting out for a duck, it speaks volumes about her talent that has seen her being fast-tracked into the system. Here we take a look at a few interesting facts about a woman who could be a cornerstone of the Indian team for years to come.

What a moment this is for the hard-hitting batter Shafali Verma, who makes her India debut today. She is only 15! 😊💪🏾#INDWvsSAW pic.twitter.com/nD0C6ApQld

— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) September 24, 2019

Second youngest debutant for India

Verma is India’s second-youngest debutant in international cricket and the youngest in T20I cricket. Verma made her debut against South Africa in Surat at the age of 15 years and 239 days. She is only surpassed in the record books by Gargi Banerji who made her ODI debut against England in 1978 at the age of 14 years and 165 days. Verma was born on January 28, 2004, in Rohtak and plays for Haryana in the domestic circuit.

A tremendous domestic season

Verma has forced her way into the national reckoning on the basis of sheer numbers. In the previous domestic season, Verma has stood up heads and shoulders over her counterparts, amassing 1923 runs with the bat. She has scored six centuries and three half-centuries, which showcase what an exciting prospect she is for Indian cricket. With figures such as these, age is well and truly a number for Verma!

Also read: IND vs SA: Jasprit Bumrah ruled out of Test series

Inspired by Sachin Tendulkar

Verma was inspired to play the game after watching the Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar in action. She was amongst the spectators who witnessed Sachin playing his final Ranji Trophy match at the Bansi Lal Stadium in Rohtak. Stunned at the number of people attending the match and the adulation for Tendulkar, Verma too decided to take up the sport. On watching Tendulkar in action, Verma said as quoted by Reuters:

“So many people to watch a cricketer, I was just dumbstruck. I asked dad if it could happen to me and he said ‘If you work hard, nothing is impossible.’ I took it to heart and have since been working hard.”

Not the best of debuts

In the match against South Africa, Verma could not trouble the scorers getting out for a duck. Opening the batting with Smriti Mandhana, she was caught by Sekhukhune off the bowling of Ismail. India still managed to post a score of 130/8 on the board with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur starring with the bat with a sizzling 34 ball 43. Deepti Sharma then picked up 3 wickets with the ball to hand India a victory by 11 runs. But with the undoubted talent in her locker, Verma will surely be given a long run in the Indian team.