Shafali Verma Becomes Youngest Indian Cricketer To Play All 3 Formats. You Go, Girl!
In India, cricket is a religion. And there is no doubt that for years, male cricketers have had a monopoly over the game. But like everything else, this also has been changing. The Indian women’s cricket team has been breaking records and have been on the news for it. Our female cricketers have not only made everyone proud but have also set an example for other women in sports. Recently, Indian cricketer Shafali Verma played her ODI debut match against England Women in Bristol and became the youngest Indian cricketer to have made their debut in all three formats.
Shefali made her T20I debut in 2019, and it was only earlier this month that she made her Test match debut against England Women. Being only 17 years and a few months old, she has become the fifth-youngest player to have debuted in all three formats of cricket, and the third youngest among women.
A proud moment for our thunderbolt @TheShafaliVerma as she is presented with #TeamIndia 🧢 131 from captain @M_Raj03. Here's hoping she has a smashing debut.💪 #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/ZsmL9Jb68Y
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) June 27, 2021
It was on this Sunday, right before the match, when the captain of the Indian women’s cricket team—Mithali Raj–handed Shafali the Team India cap. Following this, Shafali Verma went on to make 15 runs off 14 deliveries in her ODI debut. After hitting three boundaries, it was a catch at mid-on that got her out.
Though in her T20I debut she went out for nil, her Test debut was memorable. In her Test debut, she again made a record, becoming the youngest woman to hit two half-centuries in her first match. Not only that, but with 96 and 63 as scores, she has secured the third position in the list of most runs on debut in women’s Tests.
What is even more exhilarating is that in just 22 matches Shafali Verma has scored 617 runs with a strike rate of 148.31 and three half-centuries to her name. It is no wonder that she has become the mainstay in the Indian cricket team for T20Is.
Her dedication towards the game and her love for the game is what make it possible for her to keep making new records. Her journey has been an inspiration to all the young girls out there who wish to make a career in sports.
We need to let our girls grow up thinking that no matter what the field is, they can achieve anything if they put their heart into it. Our women are breaking records in every sphere and the day won’t be far when we will start respecting and supporting the Indian women’s cricket team as much as we do to the Indian men’s cricket team.
