In an emotional revelation, young cricket prodigy Shafali Verma shared why she kept her exclusion from the Indian women’s cricket team for the Ireland series under wraps. The decision came at a time when her family faced a health crisis, highlighting the personal challenges athletes often face behind the scenes.
The reason behind the silence
Shafali, known for her aggressive batting style and leadership on the field, explained that her father had suffered a heart attack just two days before the team selection was announced. Concerned for his health and well-being, Shafali chose not to burden him with the news of her being dropped from the team.
“It’s not easy to get over it. I didn’t want to reveal it because my father had a heart attack about two days before I got dropped from the team,” Shafali told the Indian Express.
A week of secrecy
For an entire week, Shafali kept this information from her father, ensuring he was in a stable condition before revealing the truth. She finally told him about her exclusion while he was still in the hospital but on the mend.
“I hid the news from him till he got better. He was in the hospital. I told him a week later,” added Shafali.
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Pratika Rawal shines as Shafali Verma’s replacement
Notably, Shafali featured in the ODI series against New Zealand, but her performances fell short of expectations, with scores of 33, 11, and 12 across three matches. Her inconsistent form prompted the selectors to make a bold decision by dropping her from the squad for the Ireland series. In her place, Pratika Rawal was brought in, and she has quickly proven her worth at the top of the batting order.
Rawal’s impressive run of form includes a century and three half-centuries in just six matches, solidifying her position as a reliable opener and adding a fresh dynamic to the team’s batting lineup. This decision not only reflects the selectors’ focus on rewarding performance but also highlights the fierce competition within the squad, where players must consistently deliver to retain their spots.
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
