‘I was just thinking about…’: Shafali Verma reveals the mindset behind World Cup final exploits | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: Incredible Indian opener Shafali Verma has spoken about the intense emotions and thought process that propelled her to a match-winning performance in the ICC Women’s World Cup final, saying she was determined to “stay calm and execute her plans” despite the nerves of the big stage.Go beyond borders with our YouTube channel. REGISTER NOW!Speaking at a felicitation event in her hometown Rohtak on Sunday, the 21-year-old reflected on the journey that took her from a year of personal struggle to the pinnacle of world cricket.
“The last year was very difficult for me. I faced a lot of difficulties, but I continued to work extremely hard and was rewarded by God for my efforts,” Shafali said.Chosen to replace the injured Pratika Rawal, Shafali grabbed her opportunity with both hands. Her all-round genius – 87 runs with the bat and 2/36 with the ball – earned her the Player of the Final award as India beat South Africa by 52 runs to win their maiden ODI World Cup title in Navi Mumbai.
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Recalling her mindset during the title fight, she said: “When I joined the team before the semi-final, I was determined to contribute to winning the World Cup. The final is always a big stage. At first I was a little nervous, but I calmed down, focused on my strategy and executed it well.”Shafali added that once she found her rhythm, she stopped thinking about milestones.“I have no regrets about missing the century. The only thought was that we had to give everything in these seven hours for our country.”Receiving a hero’s welcome in Rohtak, the Sachin Tendulkar fan acknowledged her family’s unwavering support and urged young girls to believe in themselves.“They must always work hard and have confidence in themselves. The results will follow,” she said.The young star also shared that meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the triumph was deeply inspiring.“He spent almost two hours with us and motivated everyone. It was very special,” she said.
