Shafali Verma has faced heartbreak on multiple fronts in ICC tournaments. But when she takes the field to represent the country in the Women's U-19 T20 World Cup final when they take on England in Potchefstroom on Sunday, January 29, as the captain, a lot will be riding on her performances.
It has been a whirlwind ride in the competition for the Teens in Blue, who have won all but one of their matches of the tournament, but their one loss against Australia was a debilitating one.
India reached the final after a comprehensive win over New Zealand in the semifinals. It was a complete performance — with both ball and bat — as the team first dismissed the White ferns for 107 runs, and then scored the same within 14.2 overs to secure an eight-wicket victory.
The English teenagers also played out a similar performance, but their match was a lot more dramatic than the first semifinal between India and New Zealand.
In what was a low-scoring encounter, England comprehensively defended 99 runs to earn a final place against India. After losing early wickets, Australia looked in control at 56/4 before losing their last six wickets for just 30 runs. Hannah Baker starred for England with 3/10 in her four overs to be adjudged the player of the match.
These two matches might highlight the outcome of the semifinals, with the final also set to take place at the picturesque Senwes Cricket Stadium in Potchefstroom. This ground has a history of low-scoring totals, and the onus will be on the Indian bowlers, who have been very good in the ongoing series, especially Parshavi Chopra.
The leggie has picked up nine wickets in five matches, including seven in the last three games. This will come in handy against England, and especially their skipper Grace Scrivens, who is just behind Shweta Sehrawat on the top run-getters list in the tournament.
Parshavi needs three more wickets to move to the top of the top wicket-takers list, above Australian talent Maggie Clark. Doing so will also benefit India, and if they bowl first and keep their opponents restricted to a sub-par score, then the talented Shweta will hope to continue his fine form.
Shweta has scored three half-centuries in this tournament — all of them unbeaten — including a 92 against hosts South Africa. She has picked up the mantle of being the opening batter from Shafali, who has struggled for form herself in this tournament.
A final can be an intimidating affair, and the onus will be on Shafali. In the whole team, she is the only player with the experience of playing in a final of similar stature. Her performances have not been great but her captaincy has led the side to the ultimate match of the tournament, and whether she likes it or not, all eyes will be on her, and she will need to be at her best.
