Making a stellar Test debut in Bristol earlier this month, the teenage batsman scored 96 and 63. Now, at the same venue, on Sunday, the Rohtak girl will play the first ODI of her promising career.
It will be interesting to see if Shafali enjoys a great start in the ODIs as well. Mithali, on her part, has given this youngster complete freedom to play his shots regardless of the risk. Clearly, India is counting on him to give an explosive start.
“That’s how she plays, it’s her strength and style of batting. There will be times when she will give us a head start. She is a little girl, she will also learn to make an innings.
“As a captain, I want him to enjoy his style of play. If we lose wickets early, we have to rebuild as the middle order, or if we get a good start, pick up the pace. We have the batting depth to do that,” said the veteran batsman in a virtual presser on Saturday.
Shafali’s much-awaited initiation into ODIs is also necessary as there is a Women’s ODI World Cup in New Zealand next year.
Shafali Verma (Photo Credits: Mark Evans/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, when asked if the team has celebrated its first anniversary, the 38-year-old said: “We have just arrived for our season, so haven’t thought of celebrating yet. We have an important game ahead of us. I love reaching out to messages congratulating me on my career. If I had to give my younger self one piece of advice: enjoy getting out on the field representing your country. The expectation was so high at the time that I had to wear the blue jersey. Didn’t realize the importance of it. This is what I would say to 16-year-old Mithali.”
‘Wanted to continue batting’
Mithali also revealed that the Indian team wanted to continue batting, perhaps to let go of their savior Sneh Rana (80 not out) He was eligible to score a century in the final leg on the final day of the one-off Test at the Bristol County Ground earlier this month but the umpires called it a stump.
Reuters Photo
Thanks to a brilliant, struggling, unbeaten 104-run ninth wicket partnership between Rana and Tania Bhatia (44 not out) The Indian women’s team managed to save a draw, but the way the proceedings went, the visiting team was stunned.
“We wanted to continue the game, that’s what we informed the opposing captain, and he continued. But then Sneh told me, because I too was a bit on the back foot when I saw the bails coming out and they were running out.
“So I asked her what happened and she said it was a bad light that the umpire had picked up. That’s what she was told,” Mithali said before elaborating on what really surprised her.
“But then, I saw that the teams were congratulating (each other), so the umpires said that since both the teams are congratulating, the match is over. This is what Sneh told me. So, that’s what happened.”
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