Shafali Verma says, ‘I couldn’t sleep for two nights before the final’

Shafali Verma. Pic/AFP

The adage all's well that ends well holds perfectly true for India opener Shafali Verma, who was the Player of the Match in the Women's World Cup final against South Africa two weeks ago, when the hosts clinched their maiden 50-over ICC title. However, the swashbuckling batter reveals that success didn't come without difficulties, specifically two sleepless nights.

Shafali's performance - 78-ball 87 and 2-36 - was the fulcrum around which India crafted their historic 52-run triumph. However, prior to that, Shafali, who came in as a replacement for the injured Pratika Rawal, managed just 10 runs in her first game of the tournament - the semi-final against Australia. And this failure was constantly playing on her mind in the build-up to the all-important final that was coming up two days later. "Talking of the semis, the 10 runs I made came off my bat very well. So, I was confident because I was middling it well. But I was also very sad that I couldn't score big. I was happy that the team won, but when I went back to my room, I couldn't sleep for two nights because I knew that the final is a big stage. [I was thinking of] how to deal with that, how to do well, so many questions came to my mind. I was trying to focus on how to execute my plans. For two days, I practised hard. Fortunately, in the final, I could execute my plans very well, and I am so happy to have played such a crucial knock for my team on the biggest stage," the JSW-sponsored athlete told mid-day on Saturday.

The Rohtak-born batter, who bowls off-spin, credited the entire team, especially head coach Amol Muzumdar, captain Harmanpreet Kaur and fellow opener Smriti Mandhana, for giving her the confidence to perform in the final at the DY Patil Stadium. "When I joined the team, everybody was very welcoming and helpful. All my teammates contributed immensely, which enabled us to win the World Cup. Amol sir was guiding me during the net practice sessions. Smriti and Harmanpreet were also there with me. Everybody helped in equal measure, so thanks to all of them. Hopefully, you will see a different Shafali after this World Cup," Shafali signed off.