Shafali Verma: India’s Youngest Shining Star Of Cricket

Shafali Verma hails from Rohtak, Haryana. Born on 28th January 2004, she is just 15 years old as of now and already has reached some milestones. Shafali is the youngest male or female cricketer to represent the national side at such a young age on an international level which breaks the record of her Idol Sachin Tendulkar. Shafali was just 10 years old when cricket engulfed her and she paved her path into this field since then. It’s said that home is the primary teacher, alike that her father was a cricket freak and primarily moulded her into a cricketer. Her father’s dream was to represent India but unfortunately, he wasn’t able to achieve that, she is the one making her father lucky and how can one be not grateful to have such a kid like Shafali.

She also had a record opening stand of 143 runs with Smriti Mandhana, India put up a big total of 185 runs for the west-Indies to chase and the women in blue won the match comfortably by 85 runs.

Her Inspiration

Shafali has represented Haryana women at the domestic level and has also played for Velocity in Women’s T20 Tournament held this year in Jaipur. She has revealed that her inspiration is Master Blaster- Sachin Tendulkar, like almost everyone in the country she has grown up watching him and says especially the innings where Sachin played his final Ranji Trophy match, made her look up to cricket as her ultimate career and the rest is history.

Shafali made her debut against South-Africa this year in five T20I match series, in the second T20 she scored 46 runs stunningly and recently while playing her fifth T20I overall has shattered record once again of her Idol’s making maiden half-century at 15 years of age, being the youngest to do so, previously Sachin was the youngest to smash maiden half-century at 16 years of age. She bagged the title of being player of the match as she stroked 73 runs in 49 balls, her innings consisted of 4 sixes and 6 fours, offering the audience to experience some powerful fireworks along with the innings. She also had a record opening stand of 143 runs with Smriti Mandhana, India put up a big total of 185 runs for the west-Indies to chase and the women in blue won the match comfortably by 85 runs.

Shafali was just 10 years old when cricket engulfed her and she paved her path into this field since then. It’s said that home is the primary teacher, alike that her father was a cricket freak and primarily moulded her into a cricketer.

In the 2nd T20, which is her only 6th T20, she has smashed second consecutive half-century and again scripted her name in a record where she has smashed third-fastest fifty in just 26 balls after Smriti Mandhana holding the record for fastest fifty in 24 and 25 balls. India won the second T20 match very economically as the bowlers restricted the hosts to 103 runs with Deepti Sharma taking 4 wickets and then the openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana moulded a successful innings with unbeaten 104 runs stand where Shafali scored 69 runs while Smriti scored 30 runs and lead India to 10 wicket win over the Windies. India lead the 3 match T20 series by 2-0.

Also Read: Shafali Verma Has Got Power: Leah Poulton, Australia Coach

Players like Shafali Verma are an inspiration to all the young aspiring cricketers that hard work is the key to success and you can achieve anything when you have the will and dedication to do so. Also, such players in the team are a relief that the franchise will be taken forward in good hands.