New Delhi: Young Indian batter Shafali Verma opened about her camaraderie with fellow opening partner Smriti Mandhana. The right-left combination of the Indian openers have provided the team firing starts in numerous matches and tournaments ever since Shafali broke into the international scene in 2019.
The duo will once again take the responsibility to give the team fresh starts in pursuit of commendable scores. Speaking about the succes of their opening stands, Shafali credits the understanding between them of each other’s game and reading the emotions as well.
“I’ve been opening with Smriti for the past two-three years, and now we can sense each other’s feelings just by our facial expressions while batting. We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and we give each other positive vibes,” Shafali told Star Sports when asked about her on-field relationship with Mandhana.
“We understand how important we both are to the team, especially during the powerplay, so we try to perform well for ourselves, our teammates, and the country.”
With 3493 runs in 135 innings at a strike rate of 122.51, Smriti Mandhana is the leading run-scorer for India in T20 Internationals. She is only behind New Zealand veteran Suzie Bates (4434 runs) in the overall list of run-scorers in the shortest format of women’s cricket.
“Smriti di is an exceptional timer of the ball, and she knows how to build an innings. These are the two things I admire most about her batting — her timing and her ability to construct a big innings,” Shafali spoke about her fellow opener’s exceptional qualities with the bat.
Shafali talks about her T20 World Cup debut in Australia
Shafali made her World Cup debut as a 16-year-old and having missed the trophy by a whisker then, she is hoping to change that this time around.
“It was a big deal for me to debut at 16, and I loved being in Australia. It wasn’t just the cricket; I also enjoyed exploring the country.
“The tournament was special, and I performed well for the team. Thinking back to that World Cup always brings a smile to my face. We were so close to winning, but hopefully, we can change that this time around.”
Playing the final against home team Australia, in front of a packed crowd at the iconic MCG, is an experience that has helped her in learning to handle pressure better.
(With inputs from PTI)
Young Indian batter Shafali Verma opened about her camaraderie with fellow opening partner Smriti Mandhana. The right-left combination of the Indian openers have provided the team firing starts in numerous matches and tournaments ever since Shafali broke into the international scene in 2019. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
