The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup final saw an extraordinary performance from India’s Shafali Verma, who has now revealed the significant inspiration she drew from cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. Verma’s blistering 87-run innings against South Africa was pivotal in India’s historic journey to their first Women’s Cricket World Cup title.
Verma, who was drafted into the team late due to an injury, showcased remarkable composure and skill under pressure. Her dominant batting display provided a memorable moment of redemption after a challenging period in her career, including being dropped from the ODI squad last year and a low score in the semi-final.
Verma spoke candidly about the impact of Tendulkar’s presence. “When I saw him (Tendulkar), it gave me an incredible boost. I kept talking to him and he kept giving me confidence,” she was quoted as saying. “He is the master of cricket, and we keep getting inspired just looking at him.”
Her contribution wasn’t limited to batting; Verma also took two vital wickets, a move initiated by captain Harmanpreet Kaur. Kaur cited a strong intuition and Verma’s confidence as reasons for entrusting her with crucial overs, which resulted in game-changing breakthroughs.
Despite past difficulties, Verma emphasized her self-belief. “I just wanted to make my team win. My mind was clear, and I worked on my plans,” she said. The unwavering support from her teammates and the encouragement to play her natural game were crucial elements that enabled her to execute her strategy effectively in this memorable victory.