Ms hit!

At 16, Shafali Verma has already broken one of Sachin Tendulkar’s records. The big-hitter will now look to make her mark at the T20 World Cup

- Neeru Bhatia

THE TALL, WELL-BUILT girl waited her turn to face the pacers in the nets of the Ram Narain Cricket Academy in Rohtak, Haryana. The early morning rains had forced her indoors, but her spirit could not be dampened. Shafali Varma, not yet 16 at the time, unleashed an array of shots, most of them aerial. The latest sensation in Indian cricket was not messing around.

Her mantra is simple. “Mujhe upar ka ball bohot pasand hai (I like it when the ball is pitched up), it is in my hitting zone,” she told THE WEEK, when asked about her love for lofted shots. Net practice, however, is not international cricket. There would be fewer opportunities to go over the top there. “I simply have to create the opportunities to do so,” she said.

And create them she did. At 15 years and 285 days, last November, the tomboyish girl with chubby cheeks broke one of Sachin Tendulkar’s records. She became the youngest Indian to score an international 50; Tendulkar was 16 years and 214 days old when he did so.

Shafali’s explosive 49-ball 73 against the West Indies in St Lucia overshadowed her opening partner Smriti Mandhana’s refined half-century. Shafali followed this up with a match-winning 69 in the second T20I.

There is another Tendulkar connection. Seeing the maestro play his last domestic innings at the Lahli ground in Rohtak inspired Shafali to pursue cricket full-time. “I told myself I had to play for India, I had to score runs,” she said. “Coaches used to tell me to play my fearless game. I have worked hard to get into the Indian team. When I got my cap, I was happy but told myself that I had to seal my spot.”

Though naturally serious and quiet, Shafali, who listens to sad songs to relax, has learnt to lighten up a bit after spending time with teammates such as Mandhana and the prankster Jemimah Rodrigues.