‘Facing Haryana’s Ranji players has helped better my technique and confidence,’ says Shafali Verma

India’s flamboyant opening batter Shafali Verma revealed how she improved her technique and confidence against short deliveries. The youngster took the cricket fraternity by storm during the Women’s T20 World Cup last year where she played some swashbuckling knocks. 

Verma’s aggressive playing style also grabbed her deals from The Hundred in England and the Women’s Big Bash League in Australia. The 17-year old was also handed over her maiden call-up to the national ODI and Test squads for the upcoming tour of England.

In a recent interaction with ESPNcricinfo, the Rohtak-born revealed that she used to practise about 150 bouncers at a time for getting better against bouncers. Shafali nicely counter-attacked the short deliveries during the recent home series against South Africa where she played knocks of 23, 47, and 60 at a strike rate of 156.63. 

“If you try to get better at something and get complacent after trying just once, it never works out. I chalked out a plan and played 150 balls [bouncers] at a time, then rested for a bit and faced more bouncers. I focused on practising the same thing over and over again,” Shafali Verma told ESPNcricinfo.

‘Feel that I was benefited from that Ranji camp’: Verma

Shafali Verma mentioned that she used to face Haryana Ranji pacers who helped to improve her game. The stylish cricketer pointed out that she picked the brains of speedsters like Mohit Sharma and Harshal Patel along with leg-spinner Rahul Tewatia. She was also thankful to the Haryana Cricket Association for extending this opportunity.  

“I feel that I benefited a great deal from that Ranji camp. My back-foot game was a bit weak earlier, but facing the Ranji bowlers, who would come in at around 140kph, has helped better my technique and confidence on that front.

“I interacted with Harshal [Patel], who recently played in the IPL, Mohit [Sharma] bhaiya, Rahul Tewatia, and picked their brains about dealing with the bouncer. They shared their inputs with me and so did their coach. He gave me his feedback on my batting. I’m very grateful to everyone at the Haryana Cricket Association for the opportunity,” the youngster revealed.

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