Shafali Verma

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Shafali Verma started playing cricket at the tender age of 8.Shafali Verma, once disguised as his brother Sahil Verma to substitute him in a boys cricket championship, where she outperformed the boys and won the player of the tournament award.She trained under her father for the first three years of her cricket training. Shafalis father, Sanjeev Verma took her to the local grounds for practice and would award her 5 rupees for each six she hit. Shafalis father also wanted to be a cricketer at a young age, but, he couldnt fulfill his dream due to a lack of opportunities and support.Boys initially refused to play cricket with Shefali thinking that she would get hurt, hence, she resorted to cutting her hair and then started playing matches disguised as a boy till the players recognized her talent.In 2013, at the age of 9, Shafali along with her father went to watch Sachin Tendulkar playing his last Ranji Trophy match. The little girl was so immensely inspired by the legend that she pledged to practice hard and play for the Indian cricket team one day. She also waited to meet Sachin outside the guest house where he was staying, but, failed despite her continuous efforts. Shafali posing in front of Sachin Tendulkars poster.In 2016, she joined Ram Narayan Cricket Club in Rohtak. She practiced with the girls, but, owing to her phenomenal skills her coach decided to promote her to the Elite Group, where she started practicing with the U-19, U-23, and Ranji Trophy Players. Shafalis Coach, Ashwani Kumar said during an interview, The stroke playing power which a player starts to develop at the age of 15, Shafali already had that potential gifted naturally at the tender age of 11-12..In 2018, Shafali captained the Haryana Womens Under-19 Cricket team.Noting her fierce hitting and exceptional skills, 15-year-old Shafali got her maiden call-up to be a part of Indias Womens Twenty20 International (WT20I) squad for their series against South Africa in September.On 24 September 2019, Shefali made her debut at the age of 15 years and 239 days, making her the youngest woman to play for India in a T20 international match. Shafali receiving her Team India cap from Smriti Mandhana ahead of her debut game against South Africa.Just a few weeks after she made her debut, she went on to transcend a 30-year-old record set by her hero Sachin Tendulkar. She achieved her maiden fifty scoring 73 runs off 49 balls against West Indies in a T20 match, becoming the youngest player to score fifty for India.