Follow UsIndia opener Shafali Verma’s life changed drastically in Surat when the umpires in Navi Mumbai hurried the restart of the last group stage game post the rain break in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup between India and Bangladesh. India were fielding in the damp outfield, and their tournament’s second-highest run-scorer, Pratika Rawal, twisted an ankle while fielding in that area.
Shafali was called in as her replacement, and the rest is history, as the 21-year-old returned to her hometown, Rohtak, with a winner’s medal and Player of the Match award in the final of the competition after scoring her best ODI knock and bowling her best spell in that game. However, in such highs of her life, it's easy to forget her lows.
Shafali hadn't scored a half-century in the ODI format for the last three years, and her inconsistent run deservedly saw her being out of the side. Along with all this professional struggle for her, her father suffered a heart attack right after she was dropped from the team. For someone who's just 21, this is the kind of situation where adults become numb.
And yet, Shafali kept all that aside and became a world champion along with her team, which she lifted from her performance. Speaking to the swarm of reporters after reaching home following a grand road show in Rohtak, she reflected on what helped her through this time.
"The last year was tough for me. I faced many struggles, but I kept working hard and was rewarded by God for my effort," Shafali told reporters, as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo. She further added on how she managed to perform despite all the pressure.
“When I joined the team ahead of the semi-final, I was determined to contribute to the World Cup win. 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. That helped me deliver an all-round performance.
“I tried to stay calm and execute my plans, and things went as expected. The only thought was that we had to give our all in those seven hours for our country,” she added.
This was India's first-ever World Cup trophy in women's cricket, and Shafali can expect her fortunes in the ODI format to also change along with India post this victory.