Shefali Verma’s Extravagant Knock Of 197 Runs For Haryana

Shefali Verma, the young batting sensation, played an exceptional knock of 197 runs off just 115 balls in the quarter-finals of the Senior Women’s ODI Trophy on Monday. Leading Haryana against Bengal in Rajkot, Shefali’s commanding performance led her team to a formidable total of 389/5. Her innings were filled with power hitting, as she struck 22 boundaries and 11 sixes, showcasing her aggressive approach at the crease.

This is the second century for her in the tournament. In the very first match against Uttar Pradesh, Shefali scored 139 runs from 98 balls, which further made her a top performer in the competition.

Domination of Shefali Verma in the Senior Women’s ODI Trophy

Shefali is currently the highest run-scorer of the tournament with 527 runs in just seven innings. She has been a consistent presence at the crease and with two more matches to go, is well-placed to increase her tally further. What makes this form even more important is that Shefali is currently out of the Indian women’s white-ball team.

A Tough Year and Absence from the Indian Team

Questions were raised about Shefali particularly of late by her domestic forms – her omission from the ODIs of the series involving Australia after a disastrous campaign in the ODIs itself, scoring just 108 runs in six innings average of 18. Although Shefali was subdued by such a defeat to ODI cricket, bouncing back she has done powerfully with Senior Women’s ODI Trophy. She is really capable and now very keen to get out into the international arena to continue to perform for national outfits.

Currently, Shefali is not part of the Indian squad for the ongoing ODI series against the West Indies, a series in which the Indian team has been struggling to find an ideal opening partner for Smriti Mandhana. Without Smriti, the team had been trying Priya Poonia and Richa Ghosh as an opening pair in the Australia series and suffered a 3-0 whitewash; hence, they need a stable opening combination. Lately, they have again tried Mandhana with Delhi’s Pratika Rawal, Rawal made 40 runs in the second ODI against West Indies.

Last Match of Shefali Verma

Shefali last played for India in ODIs when New Zealand toured India in October. In that series, she was a total disappointment as she could manage just 56 runs in three innings. Her overall performance in the T20 World Cup in the UAE did not impress much, where she could score just 97 runs in four innings. However, at home, Shefali is proving to be the old performer in the Senior Women’s ODI Trophy, and things are still going her way.

Harmanpreet Kaur’s Confidence in Shefali

Despite Shefali being absent from the national squad, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur has asserted that the young opener was a valuable player for India. While speaking before the series against Australia, Harmanpreet described Shefali as a vital player for the Indian team. “She is a very important player and has made a great contribution to the country. We are confident that she will soon return to her form and perform well for the team,” said Harmanpreet.

But on being asked if Shefali is not being considered, Harmanpreet stated that the decision was not in her hands, and she could only talk about the team she had at the moment, “I can only talk about the team that we have at the moment, and what we can do to win the series. If you have to ask about Shefali or any player, ask the right person.”

Future Ahead: The Road Back to a Shefali Comeback

Shefali Verma’s recent form in the Senior Women’s ODI Trophy has brought her much-needed limelight. Her aggressive batting and consistency put her in strong contention to be back in the Indian team. She would not take long to return to the national team if she keeps up this form of play, possibly filling in the void at the top order alongside Smriti Mandhana. Her return in this tournament is, no doubt, a testimony to her ability and to her determination to make it big back in international cricket.

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