Sachin Tendulkar was my role model growing up: Shefali Verma

The ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup 2023 is underway and the young ‘Women in Blue’ are geared up for a successful tournament.

With 16 teams participating in the coveted trophy, there will be a lot of eyes on Team India to deliver positive results and have a fruitful campaign.

Shafali Verma, captain of the young Indian team spoke to Star Sports in an exclusive interaction on who her role models are, her thoughts on playing the inaugural U-19 World Cup, and what the strengths of Team India are.

Speaking exclusively on Star Sports show ‘Follow the Blues’, India women’s cricketer Shafali Verma spoke on who her role models are in the game of cricket, she said “I think nowadays, I like Livingstone’s batting because he’s hitting very well, and of course growing up, playing cricket, I used to watch Sachin Tendulkar sir. So of course, Sachin sir is also my role model and I love to see him, how he is playing the game and he’s very calm. And I was also thinking to learn something like that from him.”

Shafali Verma also gave us her thoughts on her playing her first U-19 World Cup, she said “Of course it’s very good, it’s my first and last, because it’s my last year of the U-19, but of course very exciting. 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.”

Shafali Verma added that there is a difference in playing for the U-19 and the open category and how important the U-19 World Cup will be for growing and developing talented players, she said “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. I think it’s very important for women’s cricket to you know, as they way Mithali said, that for growing up and developing talented players, for them it’s very good.”

Shafali further spoke on what the mind-set and strengths for Team India will be 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 we win the world cup.”