Star Indian batter Shafali Verma has revealed the profound impact of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar’s presence before her match-winning performance in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup final against South Africa. Verma, who was a late addition to the squad due to an injury to regular opener Pratika Rawal, delivered a career-defining innings of 87 runs. This spectacular knock was instrumental in India securing their maiden Women’s Cricket World Cup title.
This victory marked a significant comeback for Verma, who had faced a period outside the ODI setup after being dropped the previous year. Her initial World Cup match against Australia in the semi-final yielded only 10 runs, making her final performance even more remarkable.
Post-match, Verma shared how seeing Tendulkar at the ground provided an immense confidence boost. “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.”
Verma’s contribution extended beyond her batting prowess. She also claimed two crucial wickets with the ball, a decision made by Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur during South Africa’s chase. Kaur described it as a “gut feeling” that paid off, highlighting Verma’s confidence and the pivotal breakthroughs she provided.
Despite recent setbacks, Verma maintained unwavering faith in her abilities. “It was difficult but I had confidence in myself, that if I can stay calm, I could achieve everything,” she stated. “My mind was clear, and I worked on my plans. So, (I am) happy that I could execute them and everyone was supporting me.”