Trained As A Boy, Shafali Verma Becomes India's Youngest T20I Debutant

Rohtak girl, Shafali Verma became the youngest T20I debutant for India. Her name was enlisted with the names of playing XI for the first T20 match against South Africa. The event was held at the Lalabhai Contractor Stadium in Surat. In this event, Shafali contributed to India's victory over South Africa with 51 runs.

She is the second-youngest player to represent India after Gargi Banerjee. After smashing runs, Shafali was quoted saying that she felt very relaxed after the match. She said that her seniors backed her after the first match and felt glad after contributing to the team's victory.

Key Takeaways:

• Rohtak girl, Shafali Verma became the youngest T20I debutant for India when her name was enlisted with the names of playing XI for the first T20 match against South Africa.
• As part of their preparations for the forthcoming T20I World Cup in Australia next year, India is hosting a five-match series against South Africa.
• The 15-year-old Shafali started her cricket training in the guise of a boy as there were no training academies for girls in her hometown, Rohtak.
• When Shafali was denied admission everywhere, her father took her to one academy and got her enrolled there as a boy. 

“I am feeling a bit relaxed now, after getting a duck on debut. The senior players backed me after the first match and am glad I contributed to the team’s victory,” said Shafali.

As part of their preparations for the forthcoming T20I World Cup in Australia next year, India is hosting a five-match series against South Africa.

Read also: Meet Annu Rani, First Indian Woman In World Javelin Throw Finals

What a moment this is for the hard-hitting batter Shafali Verma, who makes her India debut today. She is only 15! 😊💪🏾#INDWvsSAW pic.twitter.com/nD0C6ApQld

— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) September 24, 2019

Shafali Verma trained as a boy

The 15-year-old Shafali started her cricket training in the guise of a boy. She chopped off her hair after the instructions of her father. Shafali did all this as there were no training academies for girls in her hometown. Even so, when Shafali went with her father, Sanjeev Verma to these cricket academies, she was denied admission.

Her father recalled, “No one was ready to induct her in any academy because there was not a single one for girls in Rohtak. I literally begged them to give her a chance but in vain.”

When Shafali was denied admission everywhere, her father took her to one academy and got her enrolled there as a boy.

Her father's concern

When Shafali was denied admission everywhere, her father took her to one academy and got her enrolled there as a boy. He said that he was scared about this fact but fortunately, no one noticed as she was just 9-year-old when she was enrolled.

Her father had to go through a hard deal when their neighbours pestered him for allowing his daughter to play with the boys. He said that he and his daughter were exposed to the scornful comments from society in a way that at times, they would get mentally scarred.

Read also: Women’s Cricket Team Asks BCCI For Psychologist For Mental Wellbeing

Udisha Srivastav is an intern with SheThePeople.Tv