HomeCricketWonder Kid Shafali Verma Opens Her Test Career In...

Wonder Kid Shafali Verma Opens Her Test Career In Grand Style!

- Advertisement -

Fundamentally speaking, there’s no big deal if you score a 96, except the fact that you end up missing on a milestone rather revered in cricket- the century! Everyone scores a 96 in their lives. Everyone, at least, at some juncture in their cricketing journey ends up on a 90-something knock. In the nineties up until the 2000s, a famous question in the annals of Indian cricket was- “How many times has Sachin been dismissed in the 90s!?” The answer is 10 times in Tests and 17 times in the ODIs. Rahul Dravid himself got out on a 95 on Test debut. So it’s nothing abnormal as such, you’d note.

But there’s something miraculous if you end up on a 96, in your very first Test appearance, without having ever faced an English bowler in Test Cricket; an effort in the process of which you help compile a 167-run stand. A partnership which becomes the highest record opening stand in the women’s game for Team India.

- Advertisement -

There’s something absolutely devastating if you score a quick fire 96 against an attack featuring the great Katherine Brunt, Nat Sciver, Heather Knight, and Anya Shrubsole. A quartet of greats in the game that can challenge any attack, whether it’s a Stafanie-Dottin pair or a Lanning-Perry partnership or even a Devine-Bates stand.

And moreover, there’s something absolutely magical and crazy if you end up scoring 96 runs for the first time you wield a cricket bat in Test cricket aged just 17.

Let that sink in.

Just when England thought in the triumvirate of Mithali Raj, Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, they were up against an audacious batting line-up, in came Shafali Verma as the iceberg that sank the English bowlers.

How her knock justifies being labeled a quick fire inning is that it came off just 152 minute stay at the crease in this one-off Test.

Should there even be a speck of rain at Bristol, of which chances are very remote or any kind of interruption that sees us no more of Shafali Verma bat in the Test, it would be a travesty of magnanimous proportions.

Ever since the Rohtak-born right-handed belligerent striker of the ball arrived onto the scene, there’s been an air of unpredictability that spikes the viewers’ adrenaline.

She’s not even a woman yet.

At an age where she’s not even legally permitted to drive, let alone sip an occasional glass of wine, this self-confessed Sachin Tendulkar fan played an inning of such bright confidence at Bristol that may even have chuffed the little master somewhat.

Unafraid to dance down the track to the English seamers- an attack that also featured the dangerous Kate Cross and spectacularly carefree in exploring the aerial route, whether over cover or beyond mid-wicket, Shafali Verma’s 96 was an inning that carried weight as well as intent.

Of those many runs, 64 came only by way of hits to the fence, including 2 sixes.

At Tea, on Day 2, the Mandhana-Verma pair took India to a position of consolidation, the score at 63-for-naught.

Then, together, the pair batted out nearly 49 overs before Shafali, clearly aware of how close she was at getting her maiden Test century, skied an easy catch to mid-off.

But by then the damage had been done. In stark contrast to Smriti Mandhana’s 215-minute-stay at the wicket, which resulted in 78 useful runs, Shafali Verma’s approach was carefree, fluent and dynamic in equal measure.

Someone had to go out there and pinch her to believe-it almost felt- that she was playing her first-ever Test inning. Her confidence at defending, pulling, cutting and even leaving the occasional ball away from the off stump was unreal; everything about the right-hander signalled she’s made for big things in Test match cricket.

Way back in time, Chanderkanta Kaul had scored a 75 on Test debut, which prior to June 17, remained the highest-individual Test score by an Indian debutant. But today, it was broken by a cricketer both young in age but brave in mindset.

In Shafali Verma, India have found a fearless stroke maker who’ll go for her shots, much like a Sehwag, Hayden or Lara did.

But at the same time, in Shafali Verma, England have found a great nadir that must be kept quiet unless a very highly regarded English attack fails to contain a pair that has already given the idea that India aren’t here to merely compete; but rub shoulders with bravado with a team that is one of the best in the international women’s game.

The good news for now is- Verma is back in the dugout as her team are at 187 for the loss of 5. But the bad news, for England, however, is- she’s got another crack with the bat left in the Test match, a contest which is far from over!

- Advertisement -
Dev Tyagi
Dev Tyagi
Dravid believer, admirer of - the square drive, Drew Barrymore, Germany, Finland, Electric Mobility, simplicity and the power of the written word! Absolutely admire contributing to KyroSports

15 Highly Educated Cricketers Of All Time

Cricket is a game of passion and dedication. A sport in which one involves themselves in camps and practice since early childhood. Due to...

Do we often under-appreciate Andy Flower? What’s his legacy?

There's a hint of sadness in noting that Zimbabwe has never been a dominant power in world cricket. But nothing could be sadder than...

Why are more and more MotoGP riders using the Noson nasal dilator?

Introduction MotoGP riders or athletes are physically fit and healthy individuals and their muscles are continuously functioning and used during the performance. As a fan...

How Come UFC Fighters Have Cauliflower Ears But Boxers Don’t?

The UFC has come a long way since its early days, wherein the fights seemed like modern-day gladiators due to its brutality and inconsistent...

5 spinners who can be India’s potential finger-spinners

The Indian cricket team has always been proud of its ability to produce world-class batsmen and similarly potent spinners. Though in recent times, the...

IPL 2018: The beautiful Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur

Being seated in the Sawai Mansingh stadium brings a different world, a world of difference away from the palpable excitement of watching truly India’s...

The astonishing decline of Mario Balotelli

There was a time when Mario Balotelli was on top of the world.  The Italian talisman had scored two goals in the Euro 2012 semi-finals,...

Top 5 Left Wingers In The World, Based On 2019-20 Season

Owing to the fact that football has evolved a lot since its inception and the tactics have changed a lot, the role of wingers...

What can be expected from the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix?

Heat in the air and heat inside the car- that's been the story of the Azerbaijan Grand prix. As F1 parks itself at Baku...

How Suresh Raina Batted India Into The Finals of 2011 World Cup

Its been 9 years, since India won the Cricket World Cup defeating Sri Lanka on 2 April, 2011. The images and visuals of...

IPL 2018: The best from the West Indies

When one of nature's treacherous attacks on mankind- earthquakes- strike, their impact is measured on Richter's scale. When West Indians strike in a tournament...

Big change for India Women’s cricket as BCCI looks to finalise bowling coach soon

We are not even at the halfway stage of the 2018 cricketing season. It clearly seems there's no stopping India's women's cricket team. The...

Age Fraud in Indian Cricket: Are players really to be blamed?

There have been times while watching a cricket match when we tend to hear commentators comment on cricketers’ age. We as fans have many...

Ajax XI if they didn’t sell their star players

Based in Amsterdam, AFC Ajax, who incidentally draw their name from the legendary Greek hero of the same name, are the most successful club...

5 famous players to play for both Leeds United and Liverpool

Leeds United are back in the Premier League after 16 years and will play Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday in their very first match...

- Advertisement -

- Advertisement -