India’s newly crowned Women’s Cricket World Cup champions owe a significant part of their triumph to the inspiring presence of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, as revealed by star batter Shafali Verma. Verma, who stepped into the opening role after an injury to Pratika Rawal, produced a career-defining knock of 87 runs against South Africa in the final, guiding India to their historic first World Cup title.
This outstanding performance offered a sweet redemption for the 21-year-old, who had been sidelined from the ODI squad and struggled in the semi-final against Australia. Reflecting on the match-winning effort, Verma highlighted the immense confidence boost she received from spotting Tendulkar at the venue. “When I saw him (Tendulkar), it gave me an incredible boost. I kept talking to him and he kept giving me confidence,” she stated, emphasizing his iconic status. “He is the master of cricket, and we keep getting inspired just looking at him.”
Verma’s impact extended to her bowling, where she claimed two crucial wickets. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s strategic decision to deploy Verma during the opposition’s chase proved to be a masterstroke. Kaur described it as a ‘gut feeling,’ trusting Verma’s willingness to step up. The timely breakthroughs provided by Verma were pivotal in shifting the match’s momentum decisively in India’s favor.
Verma acknowledged the challenges she faced but never doubted her ability to perform on the grand stage. “I had confidence in myself, that if I can stay calm, I could achieve everything,” she asserted. Her focus was squarely on securing a team victory, a plan executed flawlessly with the unwavering support of her senior colleagues. Their advice to play her natural game was instrumental, making this World Cup triumph an exceptionally cherished memory.
