Virender Sehwag scored India’s then fastest Test double ton in 2008. Shafali Verma repeated the feat in 2024. Sehwag reached there in 194 balls. So did Verma. Sehwag hit a boundary to reach the milestone. So did Verma. Sehwag scored that against South Africa. Verma again chose the same opponent. Sehwag did so in Chennai’s Chepauk. No guesses for Shafali’s double ton venue!
Consistency and power hitting seldom go hand-in-hand. Power hitting is enticing and exciting, whereas consistency depicts maturity and reliability. Virender Sehwag is one name that comes at the forefront, thinking of both the attributes simultaneously.
Years later, the Indian team has found similar traits in Shafali Verma, albeit in the women’s team. The similarities are more than just in the traits or batting style of the two. The comparison is overwhelming for Verma.
“When I started playing cricket, Sehwag sir and Sachin [Tendulkar] sir were the names that everyone would talk about. Being compared to Sehwag sir now is a big thing for me. I have definitely learned a lot from him. His fearless attitude, hitting from first ball,” Shafali told CricketNext at a QUA brand shoot.
Verma is yet to reach her full throttle. While power hitting is something she is already synonymous with, she wants to be more consistent and reliable.
Verma was quizzed about the changes she has made in her game in a year’s time
“I have changed a lot of things mentally. Earlier, I used to think of hitting on every ball. Now I feel that I can defend and play grounded shots as well. When your game plan gets better, your consistency improves. Hopefully, I can contribute to the team’s purpose with this consistency at the World Cup,” Verma responded.
The confidence, reliability and consistency that she spoke about was also visible in her conduct and answers at the interaction.
The opening batter also explained why it was necessary to add more weapons in her game.
“I used to hit every ball. It clicks initially, but then opponents start analyzing your videos and understand your game. They get to know my strengths and weaknesses. I had a few bad patches in 2023, but it was a learning curve. Now in 2024, I believe I will be able to apply those learnings and do well,” she added.
Verma was determined to overcome her mental hurdle to hit every other ball, so much so that she also skipped the Women’s Big Bash League and the The Hundred to focus on her trainings.
“I didn’t play WBBL or The Hundred to work on my fitness and my mental level.”
The shift was visible in her maiden international century that became a double ton subsequently, earlier in 2024 against South Africa.
“I was relieved to reach 100. But the things were going well and I told myself that I should play a longer innings here,” she recalled her day in Chennai.
However, the mental shift will not stop her from putting bad balls to the fence. Her goal now is to blend the best of both worlds.
“These things are learnt from childhood. I have worked on power hitting from a very early age. Now it has become natural, but I still work on it. It is equally important to work on your strengths as well. I would want to continue this thing.”
Besides trying to be more consistent, Verma says that she also learnt a lot from Meg Lanning during their WPL stint with Delhi Capitals.
Amidst all these learnings, one important lesson has walked to Shafali. This is also the lesson that the Indian team has seemed aloof of, for a long time. The Indian team has lost matches at crucial junctures – mostly in semi-finals and the finals – in major tournaments.
“Yes, we have failed to do well in crucial moments. We always think how well can we do for our country. But we will be able to win only when the entire team plays well,” Verma said.
The recent T20 Asia Cup final debacle against Sri Lanka is a prime example for that.
“We were disappointed that we couldn’t win. But we can’t stick to one defeat. We have to move on. Our coach motivated us and asked us to focus on preparing for T20 World Cup,” Verma recalled the dressing room after defeat.
However, the Shafali-led team’s Under-19 T20 World Cup win in January 2023 was like a lamp in the darkness for women’s cricket in India. The victorious campaign should play a crucial role in a similar situation for her.
“It was a big thing. We have one trophy at least. I was very happy, it was one of the best moments of my life,” Verma expressed with elation.
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