The Indian opener Shafali Verma believes that playing against Australian women is like fighting against a men’s team because of how dominant Australia is and that one must be at their best to overcome them.
Shafali has made significant progress since making her India debut as a 15-year-old wonder, and she now partners with the graceful Smriti Mandhana to form one of women’s cricket’s most powerful opening combinations.
Shafali, who has five T20I fifties, eventually achieved her first half-century against Australia earlier this week after failing to do so a few times previously, hitting a 41-ball 52. She hit three sixes and six boundaries in her knock.
The 18-year-old has previously participated in 13 T20Is against Australia and has amassed 283 runs at an average of 21.76, with her first half-century run coming against them on Wednesday during a 21-run loss in the third T20I.
The visitors have been aggressive and in charge in the series up to this point, which has helped them take a 2-1 series lead. Shafali admitted that she enjoys facing Australian women’s team because they are very hard to defeat.
Can’t make mistakes against them
“When I play against Australia, it feels like I’m playing against men because their game is like that. If they see a small mistake that you are making, they will take advantage of it. So we have to be on top of our game against them,” said Shafali ahead of the fourth T20I.
“You can’t make mistakes against them. You have to play your best shots, which you are confident about. I learnt a lot while playing against Australia. I love playing against them. Aisa lagta hai ki ladkon ke sath hi khel rahe hain (it seems you are playing against a men’s team),” Shafali said on the eve of the fourth T20I against Australia.
We were 30 runs short
India lost the previous game by a score of 21 runs. India had been in the game because to Shafali and captain Harmanpreet Kaur, but as the necessary run rate rose, the 18-year-old tried to smash some big shots and ultimately lost her wicket, and as a result, the Indian batting order collapsed.
“When I hit a four (against the Aussies), I get boosted, and feel that I’ve improved as a player, because Australia is the best side (in women’s cricket). I’m always happy when I hit (boundaries) off the Australian (bowlers). I don’t get so much happiness when I hit boundaries against England or any other team,” said Shafali.
“We were playing well, but the situation was such that we had to take risks. We were 30 runs short, and that situation demanded that you had to go for shots if there was a loose ball. That shot usually goes for six, but on that day, unfortunately, I lost my wicket,” she added.
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