'I have matured and value my wicket more' - Shafali Verma admits ahead of England T20I series

Indian cricketer Shafali Verma has admitted that her time away from the national team after being dropped has helped her mature as a player. She stated that she has learned to be smarter and now understands the importance of respecting bowlers before looking to dominate them.

India is set to face England in a T20I series starting June 28. While Verma averages just 20 on English soil, she has shown her explosive potential in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), where she maintains a strike rate of 150 for the Delhi Capitals. Verma acknowledged that she needs to value her wicket more and is willing to adopt a defensive approach when the situation demands it.

“At the start, I was carefree and hit every ball I faced. I enjoyed dominating the bowlers, going for big shots. I have matured as a cricketer and value my wicket more. I want to contribute to every game so that my team benefits,” Verma said as quoted by Hindustan Times.

“I won’t say my style has changed much, but yes, I will be defensive too, and give respect to good bowlers. England has good bowlers like Nat Sciver-Brunt and Sophie Ecclestone. So, I won’t just throw my wicket,” she added.

Verma mentioned that the time away from the team taught her a lot and offered valuable lessons. After a dip in form, she was omitted from the Indian squad. With over 1,000 runs in T20 Internationals to her name, this comeback could prove to be a crucial turning point in her career.

"In a sport, there will be ups and downs. I, too, have faced failures and disappointments, but I have learnt from them. Hard work and passion to play for India have kept me going”, Verma said.

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Furthermore, Shafali Verma acknowledged Australian cricketer Meg Lanning for helping her gain a better perspective on her strokeplay. She also spent a few days training at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru before rejoining her teammates ahead of the upcoming ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, to be held in India and Sri Lanka.

“It is a matter of pride that India is hosting. I’m sure India will do well and make use of the home advantage. At the moment, my job is to do well in the T20Is in England. I hope to leave an impression, and then it is left to the selectors,” the explosive batter continued.

“Getting to represent your country is a dream come true. I have fought through disappointments and turned them (opportunities) into rewards with hard work. I now look forward to playing big knocks for India and showing my positive intent,” Verma concluded.