If Shefali Verma got ‘God’s Plan’ tattoo done after India’s title win in the Women’s ODI World Cup, it proved that God had indeed planned something good for her.
Shefali, who came into the Indian women’s cricket team before the semi-finals due to the injury of in-form opener Pratika Rawal, was the ‘Player of the Match’ in the final with a half-century and two wickets.
While announcing India’s World Cup squad in Mumbai in the month of August, former chief selector Neetu David had assured the media that the door was not closed for 21-year-old Shefali.
Due to the good performance of Pratika Raval in the ODI team, the path had definitely become difficult for Shefali. But Pratika’s injury opened the way for her when she was playing the Senior Women’s T20 tournament in Surat. She joined the team before the semi-final against Australia.
They took part in two practice sessions of one hour each at the DY Patil Stadium and its University ground before the semi-finals.
Before the semi-finals, he had told the media, “Whatever happened to Pratika was not good. Nobody wants a player to get injured but God has sent me to do something good.
Against Australia, she could score only ten runs in five balls but by scoring 87 runs in the final, she laid the foundation of India’s huge score of 298 runs for seven wickets.
Before Sunday’s final, she had bowled only five times in 30 ODIs but everyone was surprised when captain Harmanpreet Kaur handed her the ball.
Harmanpreet told the media, “When Shefali joined the team, we were also missing Pratika’s bowling.” We saw that Shefali is also bowling in domestic cricket. When I talked to her, she said that she can bowl full ten overs also.
He said, “When there was a 52-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus, I felt that Shefali should be given the ball.” I felt that today is her day and she can do something in bowling also.
Only time will tell whether Shefali will retain her place in the team or will be out with Pratika’s arrival, but she has registered her name in history.
