Indian women’s cricket team opener Shafali Verma has credited improved mental discipline and the guidance of vice-captain Smriti Mandhana for helping her regain form during the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England.
Shafali said learning to control her aggressive instincts at the crease played a crucial role in her return to runs after a difficult phase leading into the tournament. India have made a strong start to their campaign in pursuit of a maiden Women’s T20 World Cup title.
The team opened with a 64-run win over Pakistan before registering a dominant 95-run victory against the Netherlands, leaving them atop Group A with four points and a healthy net run rate of 3.975. Shafali’s return to form was evident in the match against the Netherlands on Wednesday, where she scored a fluent 55 off 38 balls. The right-handed batter shared a 115-run opening partnership with Mandhana, laying the foundation for India’s imposing total of 209 for five. The stand provided the stability India had lacked during their recent bilateral series against England.
Reflecting on her improvement, Shafali said the pair had focused on building partnerships and supporting each other at the crease. She added that after the previous match she spent considerable time in the nets, working on playing more along the ground and strengthening her mental approach to batting. According to her, the adjustments helped her bat with greater control and confidence. The 22-year-old also highlighted Mandhana’s influence during their time together in the middle.
Shafali admitted that her natural instinct is often to attack every delivery, but said Mandhana regularly encourages her to remain patient and wait for the right scoring opportunities instead of forcing big shots. Mandhana’s experience and calm approach have been valuable for India’s batting unit as the team looks to maintain momentum in the tournament. With key batters finding form and partnerships beginning to flourish, India will be hoping to carry their strong start into the latter stages of the competition as they continue their quest for a historic first T20 World Cup crown.