Women’s T20 WC: ‘Realised I don’t need to complicate things,’ says Shafali on mindset shift ahead of must-win clash vs AUS

New Delhi, June 27 (IANS) India opener Shafali Verma has credited a conscious decision to simplify her batting for her improved run-scoring at the ongoing tournament, saying the mental reset that followed the Pakistan match has helped her play with greater freedom ahead of India’s crucial final group-stage encounter against Australia.

Speaking before the must-win fixture, Shafali also reflected on her batting approach, bowling responsibilities, India’s fielding efforts, and the confidence the team has gained from previous success against the six-time champions.

The opening batter said she realised that over-planning was holding her back early in the tournament, and changed her approach after the Pakistan game.

“A lot of things have improved in my batting. Before the Pakistan match, I was overthinking. I was planning too much, how I would play the first ball, what shot I would play off the second ball. But after that game, I realised that I don’t need to complicate things. I just need to keep it simple. When I bat, I watch the ball and react. I don’t plan too far ahead. That has helped me score runs more freely. Because of that change, I think I am getting good scores now. I am not putting too much pressure on myself. I will try to continue this approach in the must-win game against Australia as well,” Shafali told JioStar.

The opener explained that the biggest lesson has been knowing when not to attack and instead allowing the innings to develop naturally.

“If my shots are not coming off, I don’t force them. I take singles and keep the scoreboard moving. I think batting is all about not complicating things. Keep it simple, take singles, rotate the strike, and play along the ground when needed. If the ball is in my hitting zone, I go for it. Otherwise, I respect the good deliveries and look for ones and twos. That is the approach I have learned over time. Don’t try to hit every ball. Stay calm, watch the ball, and react. Whatever I have learned so far, this is what I have understood,” she added.

Apart from opening the batting, Shafali said captain Harmanpreet Kaur has clearly defined her role with the ball, allowing her to prepare accordingly.

“Harman di has kept my role very clear. She told me that I will have to bowl in the Power-play. So, I work on that on the net as well. I bowl with the new ball, focus on hitting the right areas, and try to keep the ball around the stumps. As an opener, I know that if you bowl outside the stumps, you give the batter room to score. So, I always try to bowl according to what I would expect as an opener, what line and length would trouble me. I bowl, keeping that in mind; tight lines, stump-to-stump, and making the batter work for runs,” she stated.

Addressing criticism over India’s dropped catches during the tournament, Shafali defended her teammates and stressed that the side has continued to put in the work on the training ground.

“Everyone is thinking of giving their 100 per cent. No one is dropping catches or misfielding on purpose. Sometimes it’s just not your day, the ball doesn’t stick, the timing is off, or the bounce surprises you. But we always back the player who is having a tough day, both on and off the field. Our preparation has been good. We had two days of practice before this match against Bangladesh. We did fielding drills together as a team, half an hour of focused catching and ground fielding. So, I will not say that we are not preparing well. We are doing everything we can. It’s just about the day. Some days things click, some days they don’t. That’s part of the game,” the 22-year-old said.

Looking ahead to Australia’s challenge, Shafali acknowledged the quality of the opposition but said India’s recent success against them offers belief.

“Everyone knows Australia are a world-class team. But it’s not like we haven’t beaten them before. We recently beat them in a T20 series in Australia, and that gives us confidence. We have been playing against them for years now. We know their bowlers, their strengths, and their plans. So, we will keep things straightforward, which is important, and back our own strengths. The more you overthink, the harder it gets,” Shafali noted.

India will square off against Australia in a do-or-die encounter, with a victory confirming their place in the tournament’s semi-final.

–IANS

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