26 March - Christchurch - India player Shafali Verma pre-match press conference

Reporter: How important is this match against South Africa as hopes for the semi-finals are based upon this match? A Sports Psychologist is also travelling with you. Are there any discussions in the team and are they trying to do something different to keep the team calm before the match? Can you please tell us anything?

Shafali: Of course, we all know how crucial tomorrow’s match is. We are all focused. Our Sports Psychologist always teaches us to stay calm in every situation. We go through exercise inhaling and exhaling and it works for us. We share our difficulties which are then sorted out.

Reporter: You had a string of low scores and then good inning in the last match. So how much that has given you a confidence after that innings, now that you're back in the opening slot along with Smriti and a very important match against South Africa tomorrow?

Shafali: Yeah, of course, yesterday like the last game - of course give me so much confidence and I was always thinking to improve myself and back myself rather than worrying whether I'm doing well or not. So, just thinking to do well for the team for tomorrow's game.

Reporter: When you were not in the team and observing the game from outside, what sorts of things did you work on? Please comment on your training session and confidence against South Africa.

Shafali: When I was not in the team and I was having a bad time, I worked on the process as one should do. I am working to improve my shortcomings. I am trying to improve mentally, skill wise and physically. With each passing day, with training, we improve ourselves. I have got a lot of confidence after your last match. I hope to do well in the next game.

Reporter: Any discussions regarding next match in team? As we have seen inconsistency in batting order and no proper partnerships throughout the tournament. Any discussions regarding it before the tomorrow’s important game?

Shafali: It’s a crucial game and everyone knows their role. I think everyone is ready to give 100%. All batters are now in form. Everyone who goes out for batting, tends to build partnerships by supporting the batters at the other end. They always tell us that whatever happens, always back each other. We want to build good partnerships in the next game as a batting unit. I think our bowling unit has also improved a lot and fielding as well. I think we have improved a lot as a team.

Reporter: Everyone available for tomorrow game? All 15 are having training session?

Shafali: Yeah, all 15 are available.

Reporter: My question is an extension to the previous reporter’s question. You were out of the team for a few matches. When you were brought back in the squad, it was a very crucial game against Australia. Can you please tell in detail that what were the discussions with coach and assistant coach in nets? As you mentioned you worked on your processes. What inputs did they give?

Shafali: I am always ready for any sort of situation whether I am in the squad or not. When I was included against Australia, I was ready for it as I always thought that I may be given a chance on any given day. The coaches were backing me when I was in the nets. Our batting coach always gives me confidence which is very good thing. He has always worked on my weak and strong points. Our staff goes to those players who are not in good nick and help them out. They sit with them and give them confidence. As a player it gives us a huge boost.

Reporter: We have heard that next year, there are chances of Women’s IPL. Do you think it’s good for Indian cricket team? You have played 100 and other leagues. So do you think IPL idea is good? And is there any IPL favorite team, for which you would like to play.

Shafali: Yeah, we heard that for the next IPL, they have included 6 teams. It is very good thing. Our team and domestic players will have an opportunity to learn a lot from it. Mumbai Indians is my favorite IPL team. I enjoy watching their matches.

Reporter: We observed against England and Australia that you were trying to move on the leg side to pull the short ball. Do you feel confident now to face short pitch deliveries now?

Shafali: I have worked on my footwork and short balls. I think I have improved and would love to improve further whether these are my weak areas or strong areas.

Reporter: South African squad has very lethal fast bowlers like Morrison and Campeche. Do you like to play against any of them as you might have faced them in W10, 100 league and in nets as well.

Shafali: I love to play hard deliveries and good bowlers. I have always played against pace and as I will get it in tomorrow’s match. I am very excited to play tomorrow’s game. It would be fun to play their fast bowling.

Reporter: In the Bangladesh match we have seen Poonam Yadav play for India and slight change in the bowling line up, so in South Africa match which is a very important match tomorrow, any bowling – any thoughts on Poonam in the 11 or is it decided anything yet so far?

Shafali: Actually I don’t know, sorry –

Reporter: It’s your first 50-over World Cup. You are a young player and there are many other youngsters in the squad and meanwhile many senior players as well in the squad such as Mithali Raj and it might be their last world cup as they are at the end of their career. What you learnt from them especially regarding world cup cricket.

Shafali: Not only me, all youngsters have learnt from them as they come to us and discuss how to tackle different situations. Mithali and Jhulan come to us and to discuss these things. We want to win this World Cup for them.

Reporter: You are very young and though you have experienced two World Cups. Australia T20 World Cup and now the ODI World Cup. Can you please compare the experience of both of these World Cups? What’s the difference between T20 and ODI World Cups and what have you learnt from these two?

Shafali: I enjoyed playing my first T20 World Cup because I never thought that it was a World Cup. I always thought of giving my best to the team. I learnt how to work on fitness which I am also doing now to improve myself. I learnt that in any format of the game, fitness is very important. I also learnt that as a batter you need to have good patience. I am working on myself and trying to improve.

Reporter: Any memories from the 2017 World Cup, when India lost to England by 17 runs and you watched that match. Any specific memories?

Shafali: Yeah, I followed and watched all the matches. After watching those games, I changed my game a lot. I learnt how to play final games, as England made a tremendous comeback in that game. They were confident, as do we, but it was their day. What’s gone in 2017, has gone. Now we can improve ourselves as a team unit. We would wish to win this World Cup.

Reporter: Your experience of batting with Smriti, what are the conversations that go on between you two, because you have a very good partnership so far in International cricket?

I think we both are just talking with each other, like what I feel how the bowler is performing or what Smriti feels – we help each other.