NEW DELHI: India's swashbuckling opener Shafali Verma opened up on the intense emotions and thought process that powered 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 The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE 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 one year was very tough for me. I faced a lot of struggles, but I kept working extremely hard and was rewarded by God for my effort,” Shafali said.
Picked as a replacement for the injured Pratika Rawal, Shafali grabbed her opportunity with both hands. Her all-round brilliance — 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 lift their maiden ODI World Cup title in Navi Mumbai.
Recalling her mindset in the title clash, she said: “When I joined the team ahead of the semifinal, I was determined to contribute to the World Cup victory. The final is always a big stage. Initially, I was a bit nervous, but I calmed myself, focused on my strategy, and executed it well.”
Shafali added that once she found her rhythm, she stopped thinking about milestones.
“I have no regret about missing the century. The only thought was that we have to give it all in those seven hours for our country.”
Having received a hero's welcome in Rohtak, the Sachin Tendulkar fan credited her family's unwavering support and urged young girls to believe in themselves.
“They should always put in hard work and have self-belief. Results will follow,” she said.
The young star also shared that meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the triumph was deeply inspiring.
“He spent nearly two hours with us and motivated everyone. It was very special,” she said.
Catch Lovlina Borgohain's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 5. Watch HereAt TOI Sports Desk, reporters work around the clock to bring you ...
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