India’s star batter Shafali Verma faced one of the most challenging phases of her career in November last year when she was dropped from the national team ahead of the tour of Australia. However, this professional setback was compounded by a personal crisis, as Shafali revealed in a recent interview with Indian Express.
Father’s Health Crisis Hidden During Tough Times
Two days before the squad for the Australia tour was announced, Shafali’s father, Sanjeev Verma, suffered a heart attack. Despite grappling with her exclusion from the team, Shafali made the painful decision to hide the news from her father, who was recovering in the hospital.
“It wasn’t easy to handle everything at once,” Shafali said. “I didn’t tell him about being dropped until he got better. I only shared the news a week later when he was in a more stable condition.”
A Father’s Unwavering Support
When Sanjeev Verma eventually learned of his daughter’s omission, he wasted no time in helping her refocus on her game, even during his own recovery.
“My father has always been my biggest supporter,” Shafali shared. “He reminded me of the drills and workouts I used to do as a child, the foundation of my game. Sometimes we forget our strengths, but parents don’t.”
Battling Poor Form and Bouncing Back
Shafali’s exclusion came after a string of underwhelming performances in international cricket. She had failed to score a half-century in her last 10 innings, with her highest being 43 during a T20 World Cup match against Sri Lanka. In her final ODI series against New Zealand, she managed scores of 33, 11, and 12.
Her replacement in the ODI side, Pratika Rawal, seized the opportunity, scoring a century and three half-centuries in just six matches, further cementing her place in the team.
A Stunning Comeback in Domestic Cricket
After being dropped, Shafali channeled her focus into domestic cricket, delivering stellar performances. Across two tournaments, she amassed 527 and 414 runs in just 12 matches, including three centuries and five fifties. Her strike rates of 152.31 and 145.26 highlighted her dominance and return to form.
Shafali credited her turnaround to refining her game and focusing on specific areas of improvement. “I’ve been working on how to handle deliveries that aren’t in my hitting zones, how to rotate strike, and how to build an innings better. Everyone knows my strengths, but the goal is to grow mentally and tactically as a player.”
Looking Ahead
Shafali Verma’s story is a testament to resilience in the face of adversity. From managing a personal crisis to regaining her form through hard work and determination, she has shown the grit needed to overcome setbacks and make her way back stronger.
