India seek white-ball course correction

The 17-year-old batting sensation, who has taken world cricket by storm, has so far played 22 T20 Internationals but was inexplicably not picked for the last home series against South Africa Women

Bristol: Teen sensation Shafali Verma is set to make her eagerly-anticipated ODI debut as the Indian women’s team seeks white-ball course correction against a strong world champion English side in the first game of the three-match series, here on Sunday.

The 17-year-old batting sensation, who has taken world cricket by storm, has so far played 22 T20 Internationals but was inexplicably not picked for the last home series against South Africa Women, with India witnessing disastrous consequences.

India lost 1-4 against South Africa and there was a lot of debate about Shafali’s omission from that series.

However on Sunday, no such hara-kiri is expected to be committed by the Indian team management, which now understands Shafali’s true value all the more after her stellar Test debut against England last week with scores of 96 and 63.

Her big-hitting prowess would certainly be of great value for the Indian team, which has lacked impact players save vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who herself has not been in the best of form.

With defensive plodders like Punam Raut, skipper Mithali herself in the top-order, Shafali on her day could be the difference between a sub-par total of 200 and winning score of 235 to 240.

The manner in which Shafali hammered the likes of Anya Shrubsole, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Nat Sciver and Sophie Ecclestone on her Test debut, the home team’s coaching staff would certainly be burning the midnight oil to stop the new ‘Haryana Hurricane’.

It would be interesting to check out India’s team composition which came under a lot of scanner during the series against the Proteas.

For England, Sophia Dunkley, after her impressive Test debut last week, is set to get her maiden WODI cap but the batting would mostly depend on seasoned pros Tammy Beaumont, skipper Heather Knight and all-rounder Siver.