Nottingham, Jun 28 (PTI) The returning Shafali Verma says watching videos of Sachin Tendulkar鈥檚 batting in Test cricket, when she was not in the scheme of things, helped her understand the importance of playing each ball on merit.
Closely observing Tendulkar鈥檚 knocks played a part as she got down to plot her comeback into the Indian women鈥檚 team after being dropped last year due to poor form.
鈥淓arlier I used to think of scoring a four or a six off every ball, but then I realised that it鈥檚 important to give respect to a good ball. I saw Sachin (Tendulkar) sir鈥檚 Test innings and got a lot of motivation from that,鈥 Shafali told BCCI Video ahead of the white-ball series opener against England in Nottingham.
鈥淚t reminded me of my childhood days when I used to not even miss a single game of his. I covered almost every match again. Watching that, I learned that the only way to build a good innings is by respecting the good deliveries.鈥 Excellent performance in domestic cricket and Women鈥檚 Premier League (WPL) paved the way for her comeback.
The 21-year-old said that that comebacks are never easy and it became all the more tough after her father suffered a heart-attack just 10 days before the team selection last year.
Shafali got dropped for the three-match ODI series against Australia in November after a poor run of form.
鈥淲henever you make a comeback you encounter tough situations, but when you are back in the team environment, it is a very good feeling. I am very happy that I could make a comeback.
鈥淛ust 10 days before my selection (for the series against Australia), my dad suffered a heart-attack. That was a very tough situation for me and after that I did not get selected in the team. I did not know what was happening.
鈥淚 worked on my fitness for 20-25 days. I picked up the bat after 20-25 days and I felt very good. That gave me a different kind of energy, a different feeling. Time teaches you a lot of things. I will do my best and leave the rest to destiny.鈥 With time, her father鈥檚 condition also improved and he was able to help Shafali out with her training.
鈥淎fter my dad recovered, he made me work a lot on my fitness before the domestic season. It was an up-down period for me, and I think it鈥檚 important to face such situations as only then you can become a strong person.鈥 Shafali added that the time away from the national side taught her the value of cherishing the good moments.
鈥淚f a player has savoured good days, he or she should also be ready for bad days. One should be ready to digest both, and only then you can become a star,鈥 said Shafali, who last played a T20I during the Women鈥檚 T20 World Cup in 2024.
When she was not in the national team, Shafali made up her mind not to miss any opportunity to score runs in domestic cricket.
鈥淚 though wherever I get an opportunity, I will only think about scoring runs. I am not going to think about the future. And then WPL came. I said to myself that I will remain only in the present and forget about the future. Being in the present was the biggest motivation for me.
鈥淲hen my name came for the T20 series against England, my dad said 鈥榦nly focus on your work, and leave the rest to destiny鈥.
鈥淚 think, this is the time to win the series in England. I鈥檝e played here before so I know the factors (that influence the game) well. Getting the jersey back after a long time is a moment to cherish.鈥 PTI AM AM AH AH