Shafali Verma, the 18-year-old captain of the Indian women's cricket team in the ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup, has revealed that she admires English all-rounder Liam Livingstone's batting style and considers legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar to be her role model.
Verma, who made her senior India women's team debut at just 15, has already played in both the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup and the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, as well as being part of the silver-winning team at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
In the U19 T20 World Cup, Verma has been the standout performer for India, scoring 45 off 16 balls in her first match and 78 runs in her second. Reflecting on her first and last U19 World Cup, Verma said: "We have a good team, we are really enjoying with the girls and I hope we will play good cricket and of course we will be here for the world cup and we will try to achieve that."
She added that there is a difference in playing for the U-19s and the open category and how important the U-19 World Cup will be for growing and developing talented players. "There is lots of difference because the ball is coming in a little slow in the U-19 and the wicket is also in the slow end and we are trying to get used to that. And of course, a little bit of difference, seamers have good pace, a good mind-set here also but they are all learning and I really enjoying playing with them."
Speaking on the mindset and strengths of Team India at the U-19 World Cup, she said: "I would say we are averaging well in batting, bowling and fielding, it's just the mind-set of how they are taking them, but as a captain, I hope