Following India women’s emphatic second T20I victory, Player of the Match Shafali Verma fronted the post-match press conference with calm assurance, reflecting on her form, the team’s progress and the road ahead as preparations for the T20 World Cup gather momentum.
Takeaways from two convincing wins
Asked about the positives from the Vizag leg and areas that still need work, Shafali acknowledged the strong performances while admitting there is room for improvement. “There have been a lot of good things in these two matches,” she said, before pointing to fielding as an area of continued focus. “We know we are putting in a lot of effort, and day by day we are improving.”
Fielding standards and improvement
Fielding, which had come under scrutiny after the first match, was a recurring theme. Shafali stressed that intent and effort were never lacking. “Everyone is very keen to work hard. We all know next year is the T20 World Cup, and we are paying attention to every small detail,” she said, adding that visible improvements were already evident in the second game.
Joy around Vaishnavi Sharma’s maiden wicket
Speaking about the young Vaishnavi Sharma, Shafali’s face lit up. She described the celebrations around Vaishnavi’s maiden T20I wicket as one of the highlights of the day. “She wasn’t that happy, but we were all very happy for her. She is bowling so well and looks very confident,” Shafali said, underlining the supportive environment within the squad.
Her batting approach in the chase
On her own innings, Shafali explained that clarity of plan was key. She revealed that early on, she focused on rotating the strike before switching gears once the ball started coming onto the bat. “I thought it was my day, but my main aim was to execute my plans,” she said. “When you keep playing, it keeps coming on the bat.”
Confidence built through hard work
Shafali credited her recent form to sustained hard work away from the spotlight. “When I had nothing in my hands, I focused on hard work,” she said. “Hard work always pays off, and I can feel that confidence now.”
Being ready to contribute in all departments
Interestingly, Shafali also touched upon bowling, stressing the importance of being prepared for every role. “Anyone can bowl, and everyone should be ready,” she said, noting that even batters regularly bowl in the nets. “Cricket is a different game. You never know when the team will need you.”
With India firmly in control of the series, Shafali signed off by reiterating that these matches are about learning and growth. “Everyone is keen to improve, day by day. Hopefully, all of us will look different by the time the T20 World Cup comes.”
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