Despite acknowledging the challenges of joining the team midway through the campaign, Shafali said she was eager to contribute and focused on keeping things simple.
Photo: IANS
Drafted into the World Cup squad as a late replacement for the injured Pratika Rawal, India opener Shafali Verma expressed confidence in making an impact if handed an opportunity in the high-stakes semifinal against Australia on Thursday at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.
The 21-year-old, whose surprise call-up even without being in the original squad or in the reserves’ list raised many eyebrows, is likely to partner Smriti Mandhana at the top of the order, as India will look for an inspired show against a ruthless Australia in the second semifinal.
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Despite acknowledging the challenges of joining the team midway through the campaign, Shafali said she was eager to contribute and focused on keeping things simple.
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“Of course it’s challenging if you come in directly in the semi-final. I think playing at home in a World Cup is a different motivation because of the huge crowd that’s cheering you. When you see a packed stadium, your feet start to move automatically as a sportsperson. Motivation is 100 percent there. The simpler I keep it, the better I will perform,” she said.
The right-hander added that she was determined to approach the opportunity with belief and intent.
“If God has sent me here, I’ll try to play my best game with the best intent, if I play, and try to do what the team needs, do what I do the best, and keep it simple. I’ll try and keep telling myself little things like ‘stay calm’ and ‘believe in yourself.’ These things will help, hopefully, and I’m doing well in practice, and hopefully things will get better for me,” Verma said in a video shared by the BCCI on Wednesday.
India, which finished fourth in the group stage with three wins, three losses and an abandoned match, sealed their semifinal berth with a crucial victory over New Zealand in a must-win clash.
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