17 February - Gqeberha - India player Shafali Verma pre-match press conference
[Reporter]
Hi, Shafali. Gomesh from the New Indian Express. All the best for tomorrow's game. I wanted to ask, since the last 2020 World Cup, when you came here, your technical aspect of the game, and as a batter, the way you bat right now, how do you see that journey? I mean, the way you play pace, we think it's a little different from the outside world. Have you worked on anything specific about that?
[Shafali Verma]
Yeah, of course. As I said, in 2020, what was my game, and what is it today? So, I'll say that in 2020, of course, I played every ball with my stroke, that I had to hit every ball. But nowadays, Rishi Sir has also worked on that, he has told me how to, you know, pick the balls. So, I'm working on that. On picking my balls, the strength that I hit, otherwise, I'm working on that. So, going forward, you'll see further improvements. So, yeah.
[Reporter]
Also, you and Katherine Sciver-Brunt whenever India and England play an internal battle, that happens. Sometimes you do well, sometimes they do. This time, about that battle, about the contest with them, and what should you do this time?
[Shafali Verma]
Look, it's always fun, because she's aggressive, and I'm aggressive too. Because whenever she outs me, she also shows her aggression. And when I hit the ball, you know, I also show my aggression. So, it's fun, you know. As a batter, you like it a lot, when you get aggression from the bowling, from the bowling attacks. So, that gives you confidence. And seeing that, I like it a lot. I mean, seeing a competition like that, I get a boost up. And it's fun playing with them. She's also playing well. She's been playing for many years. And of course, going forward, there's no pre-plan tomorrow, but yeah, I'll see the ball, I'll execute my plans.
[Reporter]
Thank you, and all the best.
[Shafali Verma]
Thank you.
[Reporter]
Hi, Shafali. How special has the last month and a half been for you? A lot has happened in your life. You've become the first woman in India who has won the World Cup in cricket for India. How do you see the last one and a half months?
[Shafali Verma]
Look, it's passed for me now. And it's passed very well for me. And the sooner I learn going forward, the better. But yeah, of course, as you said, the last month and a half has been very crucial for me. And it's been very good for my life and, you know, for me and my family. So, it feels good to see these things. But the sooner you learn from them, the better it is for you. So, I'm thinking that I should take that inside and go with confidence whenever I go for betting or to play for India. So, I'm just thinking that I should give my 100% when I play for the team or, you know, always. Even if I'm out or whatever, I always think about doing well for the team.
[Reporter]
And during the presentation, during the Under-19 World Cup final, you said that your focus is on the bigger one, which is this World Cup. But when you returned from India, returned from the celebration ceremony, how easy or difficult was it to join this team? And what have you learned from that Under-19 World Cup campaign and have you been able to implement any of it or would you like to do it?
[Shafali Verma]
Of course, I learn something everyday. I want to improve my skills
[Reporter]
The last time India-England played an international series, that was the 2022 England Tour. And the way that tour was completed, Deepti Sharma ran out on the non-strikers end page, so, the nature of the win, do you think that winning a series win for the first time in 23 years will inspire India, boost India for tomorrow's match?
[Shafali Verma]
Absolutely, as you said, we won the England series, so we're very confident about that. But we know how crucial the match is tomorrow and we'll keep our focus on that. And we'll give our 100% and just enjoy the game. And at the same time, it's crucial, so we'll keep our focus and do well. We'll execute whatever the plans are.
[Reporter]
I've been asked to ask the same question in English, so if you could answer in English, please, Shafali. The last time India and England faced off each other in international cricket was during the 2022 tour, where India wrapped up a historic ODI series win for the first time in 23 years, with the wicket of Charlie Dean affected at the non-strikers end by Deepti Sharma. Do you think that win, the series win and how India wrapped up that tour is likely to inspire and boost the confidence of your team going into tomorrow's important game against England in the World Cup? Of course, as you said, we won the series versus England, so we are really confident and boosted up, of course. And of course, we know how crucial the game is tomorrow. At the same time, we're just thinking about what we have planned, so just execute out there in the field. So just enjoy the game and just keep backing each other.
[Reporter]
Thanks, Shafali. All the best.
[Shafali Verma]
Thank you.
[Reporter]
Shafali, I wanted to ask you one more thing about your bowling. We saw in the U-19 World Cup and in this World Cup as well, how much you want to use this team management in your bowling. In that bowling, for the last six months, since when have you been working so seriously on your bowling? And what are the things you're implementing about it?
[Shafali Verma]
Look, I didn't get to bowl earlier, but I always used to bowl in the nets, as a serious mood, but I always used to bowl in the nets because, you know, you might need your team for your bowling or anything. But when I started in my childhood, when I started everything, I did keeping at one time and I was a bowler at another time. So, you know, those little things help me now. So I never get nervous, whether it's the first over or the last over of the match. So I'm always confident, whether I'm bowling, fielding or batting. So that confidence boosts me a lot, whether I'm fielding, as I said earlier. But those things help you a lot. So, I learned a lot in my childhood, so that's why it's getting easier here.
[Reporter]
Anything else?
[Moderator]
I'm sorry, we have to go to Zoom. We have to move on to Zoom. Sorry, guys, we're running out of time as India have to begin their practice. We'll start with Hemant and may I please just ask if it's possible for everyone to ask one question.
[Reporter]
Hi, Shafali, this is Hemant from Women's Crick Zone. First of all, how are you?
[Shafali Verma]
I'm great.
[Reporter]
So, my question is that you have given India some great starts, whether it's in the Pakistan game or the West Indies game. So, how confident are you before tomorrow's game versus England?
[Shafali Verma]
Of course, as you said, I'm batting well from the last two games. But tomorrow, I'll start from the first ball. And you know, it's not that I've done well in the last two games. So, sometimes I get that confidence boost. But I always focus on every ball, whether I'm playing my fifth or fourth match, or I got out on zero in the last game. But I'm always focused on my first ball and the last ball of my game. And you know, I just enjoy my batting and I keep telling myself, you have to do it , you have to score for the team. And you know, I'm just saying these things when I'm batting.
[Reporter]
Abigail?
[Reporter] Hi, Shafali. Just on tomorrow, what do you see England's strengths being as and how are you looking to approach and tackle those?
[Shafali Verma]
Yeah, I saw England's game, how they're playing right now. So, you know, they are also confident. So, we have also planned how to, you know, go over there and, you know, do things. And we're just thinking to execute that things and, you know, just, as I said earlier, backing each other and, you know, just believe in ourselves and just keep going like that, what we are doing.
[Moderator]
DJ?
[Reporter]
Hi, Shafali. This is Namratha from News 9 Sports. My question to you is, you have consistently getting starts. How are you planning to convert them?
[Shafali Verma]
Yes, exactly like you said, I'm getting a good start. And the only thing left is to convert. So, I'm taking that mindset with me. Tomorrow, I'll think that I'll get a good start. So, it's not like I was thinking of converting in the last two months. But that's not happening. But the thing is, I'll be more focused in the next match. And, you know, I'll be thinking of executing that more.
[Moderator]
Sunil, and unfortunately, we will have to close there.
[Reporter]
Shafali ji, namaskar. Your six matches with England were very tough. No batting, no bowling. There was a lot of issue with fielding. Where half-catches were missed, half-chances were missed. And in these matches too, you saw that 2-3 catches were missed. How much do you think our fielding should improve? If we take England as a side. Thank you.
[Shafali Verma]
As you can see, we have improved a lot from the start. And everyone is thinking of doing well. Unfortunately, sometimes mistakes happen. But day by day, we try to improve our mistakes. And you know, our staff also says the same thing. Whatever happened, happened. But going forward, keep learning and keep improving. So we are thinking of improving every day. And of course, as you said, against England. It's not like we have to do well against England. We always think of doing well. And we will give our 100% tomorrow as well.
[Moderator]
Thanks everybody for that. And we'll close it at that. Have a good afternoon.