Worked hard on my bowling: Ind opener Shafali Verma on her growing all-round role
Women's T20 World Cup 2026, IND vs BAN: Shafali Verma said preparation and visualisation have sharpened her value as India's part-time bowling option before the Bangladesh game. Her added role gives India balance as Harmanpreet Kaur's side confront a must-win stretch after the South Africa defeat.
India opener Shafali Verma has credited preparation and visualisation for her growing impact with the ball, saying her evolution as a part-time bowler is the result of deliberate work rather than chance, ahead of India’s must-win T20 World Cup clash against Bangladesh in Manchester on June 25. Known for her explosive starts at the top of the order, the young batter has increasingly chipped in with the ball in recent matches, providing India with a useful off-spin option in key moments.
Her development as a bowling option has added balance to the side at a critical stage of the tournament, with India pushing for qualification in a tightly contested group.
"It's not like that I have never bowled before," Shafali Verma said on the eve of India’s T20 World Cup clash against Bangladesh. "Whenever I played domestic cricket for Haryana and even when I was captain, I always gave myself time to think about how I would execute if I got a chance to bowl for India."
"I have visualised those situations. If I am bowling in a particular match situation, what do I need to think about? It's not like I am bowling just like that. I have prepared for it and worked hard on it. That's why I am able to execute well."
Shafali also said she embraces added responsibility and is willing to step up whenever the team requires, describing her expanded role as part of her growth as a cricketer.
"As a player, whatever the situation and whatever the team needs, I always put my hand up. I want to get the team out of difficult situations and help win matches. So I would say I am an all-rounder now," she said.
The 22-year-old also acknowledged the influence of her family in shaping her skillset, recalling how her father encouraged her to bowl from a young age while she also experimented as a wicketkeeper in domestic cricket.
"My brother was a leg-spinner, so sometimes my father would tell me to bowl as well if I got a chance. Now he says, 'Thank God you bowled at that time because you are bowling well today'," she added.
"My father first made me a wicketkeeper. If you don't know, I used to keep wickets in domestic cricket. But now I am bowling as well, and I don't mind being the person who helps the team win games."
INDIA FOCUSED ON GETTING BACK TO BEST
India’s six-wicket defeat to South Africa has left Harmanpreet Kaur’s side needing victories in their remaining two league matches against Bangladesh and Australia to stay in contention for a place in the knockout stage.
Shafali said the team has moved on quickly from the setback and is focused on responding strongly in the must-win phase of the tournament.
"When we go through bad days, the morale of the players will be down. But the next day, we all know that we have to come together and motivate each other," she said.
"We spoke about it in the huddle yesterday. We know these are crucial games, but we will back each other. We are taking it day by day... everyone is very mature. Everyone has played a lot of cricket. So, I don't think we will let this situation happen again in this World Cup. We will give our best."
Shafali added that India are wary of complacency despite entering the match against Bangladesh as favourites, stressing the importance of respecting every opposition in tournament cricket.
"We can't take any team lightly. They also came here to show good cricket... we all know we have to win two games but we'll go game by game," she said.
The opener also drew confidence from India’s experience of similar pressure situations in last year’s ODI World Cup, where the team responded strongly after a difficult phase.
India opener Shafali Verma has credited preparation and visualisation for her growing impact with the ball, saying her evolution as a part-time bowler is the result of deliberate work rather than chance, ahead of India’s must-win T20 World Cup clash against Bangladesh in Manchester on June 25. Known for her explosive starts at the top of the order, the young batter has increasingly chipped in with the ball in recent matches, providing India with a useful off-spin option in key moments.
Her development as a bowling option has added balance to the side at a critical stage of the tournament, with India pushing for qualification in a tightly contested group.
"It's not like that I have never bowled before," Shafali Verma said on the eve of India’s T20 World Cup clash against Bangladesh. "Whenever I played domestic cricket for Haryana and even when I was captain, I always gave myself time to think about how I would execute if I got a chance to bowl for India."
"I have visualised those situations. If I am bowling in a particular match situation, what do I need to think about? It's not like I am bowling just like that. I have prepared for it and worked hard on it. That's why I am able to execute well."
Shafali also said she embraces added responsibility and is willing to step up whenever the team requires, describing her expanded role as part of her growth as a cricketer.
"As a player, whatever the situation and whatever the team needs, I always put my hand up. I want to get the team out of difficult situations and help win matches. So I would say I am an all-rounder now," she said.
The 22-year-old also acknowledged the influence of her family in shaping her skillset, recalling how her father encouraged her to bowl from a young age while she also experimented as a wicketkeeper in domestic cricket.
"My brother was a leg-spinner, so sometimes my father would tell me to bowl as well if I got a chance. Now he says, 'Thank God you bowled at that time because you are bowling well today'," she added.
"My father first made me a wicketkeeper. If you don't know, I used to keep wickets in domestic cricket. But now I am bowling as well, and I don't mind being the person who helps the team win games."
INDIA FOCUSED ON GETTING BACK TO BEST
India’s six-wicket defeat to South Africa has left Harmanpreet Kaur’s side needing victories in their remaining two league matches against Bangladesh and Australia to stay in contention for a place in the knockout stage.
Shafali said the team has moved on quickly from the setback and is focused on responding strongly in the must-win phase of the tournament.
"When we go through bad days, the morale of the players will be down. But the next day, we all know that we have to come together and motivate each other," she said.
"We spoke about it in the huddle yesterday. We know these are crucial games, but we will back each other. We are taking it day by day... everyone is very mature. Everyone has played a lot of cricket. So, I don't think we will let this situation happen again in this World Cup. We will give our best."
Shafali added that India are wary of complacency despite entering the match against Bangladesh as favourites, stressing the importance of respecting every opposition in tournament cricket.
"We can't take any team lightly. They also came here to show good cricket... we all know we have to win two games but we'll go game by game," she said.
The opener also drew confidence from India’s experience of similar pressure situations in last year’s ODI World Cup, where the team responded strongly after a difficult phase.
