Shafali Verma, the dynamic Indian batter, has shared that a chance encounter with cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar significantly boosted her confidence before her match-winning performance in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup final. Verma’s impactful innings of 87 runs against South Africa was the cornerstone of India’s victory, clinching their first Women’s Cricket World Cup trophy.
Verma’s inclusion in the squad was a last-minute change due to an injury, making her stellar performance even more noteworthy. This century-defining knock served as a powerful redemption for the young cricketer, who had been sidelined from the ODI team previously and had a quiet outing in the semi-final.
Reflecting on the moments leading up to the final, Verma highlighted Tendulkar’s inspirational role. “When I saw him (Tendulkar), it gave me an incredible boost. I kept talking to him and he kept giving me confidence,” she stated. “He is the master of cricket, and we keep getting inspired just looking at him.”
Beyond her batting heroics, Verma also made a significant impact with the ball, dismissing two key South African batters. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s decision to give Verma crucial overs was described as a “gut feeling” that paid off spectacularly, changing the momentum of the game.
Verma acknowledged the challenges but stressed her inner conviction. “It was difficult but I had confidence in myself, that if I can stay calm, I could achieve everything,” she explained. The clarity provided by her teammates and the freedom to play her game were key to her successful execution of plans.