Shafali Verma, a batswoman for the India women’s team and the current U19 captain, has said that Indian great Sachin Tendulkar and English batting all-rounder Liam Livingstone are her role models. Notably, the top opener’s aggressive batting style and capacity for large runs quickly have led to comparisons to former India opener Virender Sehwag.
The 18-year-old claimed that because she admires Livingstone’s aggressive style of batting, she currently looks up to him. Shafali identified Tendulkar as her childhood hero, though.
Shefali said on Star Sports show ‘Follow the Blues’, “I think nowadays, I like Livingstone’s batting because he’s hitting very well, and of course growing up, playing cricket, I used to watch Sachin Tendulkar sir. So of course, Sachin sir is also my role model and I love to see him, how he is playing the game and he’s very calm. And I was also thinking to learn something like that from him.”
Shafali is leading the Indian squad in the U19 Women’s World Cup, which is currently taking place in South Africa. Shafali, the captain of India, used her knowledge and abilities from the senior women’s team to win the two games the squad has already played. The right-handed hitter is optimistic that India will win the coveted championship.
“Of course, it’s very good, it’s my first and last because it’s my last year of the U-19, but of course very exciting. We have a good team, we are enjoying ourselves with the girls and I hope we will play good cricket and of course, we will be here for the world cup and we will try to achieve that. I would say we are averaging well in batting, bowling, and fielding, it’s just the mindset of how they are taking them, but as a captain, I hope we win the world cup.”
