Shafali Verma reflects on 2020 T20 World Cup final experience
Indian cricketer Shafali Verma has shared her experience of playing in the 2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup final against Australia. The match, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), was attended by over 86,000 spectators. This marked a record-breaking attendance for a women's cricket match. Despite India's defeat, this remains their best performance in eight editions of the T20 World Cup.
Verma's initial struggle with crowd pressure
Verma admitted to Star Sports that the massive crowd initially overwhelmed her during the 2020 T20 World Cup final. "I couldn't hear anything because of the massive crowd. It was a completely new experience for me to play in front of such a big audience," she said. However, this experience has since taught her how to better manage pressure in high-stakes matches. Notably, India will kick-start their 2024 T20 WC campaign against New Zealand on October 4.
Verma's growth and future aspirations
Verma, who made her T20 World Cup debut at just 16 years old, has expressed her desire to win the trophy in future tournaments. "It was a big deal for me to debut at 16 and I loved being in Australia," she said. Notably, she was dismissed for two in the 2020 final game against the Aussies. Despite the initial pressure, Verma now believes that she would not feel the same if faced with a similar situation again.
Verma reminisces about her debut tournament
Verma fondly remembers her debut tournament and the time she spent in Australia. "The tournament was special and I performed well for the team. Thinking back to that World Cup always brings a smile to my face," she stated. Despite coming close to victory, India fell short in the final match against Australia, who secured their fifth T20 World Cup title with this win.
