Indian women’s team opener Shafali Verma on Wednesday (June 24) said her rise as a reliable bowling option is a direct result of her deliberate focus on visualization, strategic preparation, and her ability to adapt under pressure.

Known for her explosive batting, Shafali’s transition into a genuine all-rounder comes from targeted practice sessions aimed at expanding her role. Bowling is not new to her, as she has previously delivered under pressure, including taking two critical wickets in the Women’s ODI World Cup final last year.

Shafali’s off-spin offers strategic depth, allowing India to use her effectively in various phases, including opening the bowling attack.

"It's not like that I have never bowled before. Whenever I played domestic cricket for Haryana and even when I was captain, I always gave myself time to think about how I would execute if I got a chance to bowl for India," Shafali told reporters on the eve of their T20 World Cup 2026 clash against Bangladesh.

"I have visualised those situations. If I am bowling in a particular match situation, what do I need to think about? It's not like I am bowling just like that. I have prepared for it and worked hard on it. That's why I am able to execute well," she added.

Shafali said she enjoys taking on additional responsibility and is willing to step up whenever the team needs her.

"As a player, whatever the situation and whatever the team needs, I always put my hand up. I want to get the team out of difficult situations and help win matches. So I would say I am an all-rounder now," she said.

She credited her father for her bowling skills and for making her start as a wicketkeeper. "My brother was a leg-spinner, so sometimes my father would tell me to bowl as well if I got a chance. Now he says, 'Thank God you bowled at that time because you are bowling well today'," Shafali stated.

"My father first made me a wicketkeeper. If you don't know, I used to keep wickets in domestic cricket. But now I am bowling as well, and I don't mind being the person who helps the team win games."

India’s qualification scenario for the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals hangs in a delicate balance following a crucial six-wicket defeat to South Africa. The loss at Old Trafford has complicated the knockout race in Group A, forcing Harmanpreet Kaur's side to treat their remaining matches as must-wins.

Shafali Varma stressed that the team is ready to move on from the loss against South Africa and will look to focus on each game at a time.

"When we go through bad days, the morale of the players will be down. But the next day, we all know that we have to come together and motivate each other," Shafali said.

"We spoke about it in the huddle yesterday. We know these are crucial games, but we will back each other. We are taking it day by day ... we had a lot of thoughts about staying in the present. Everyone is very mature. Everyone has played a lot of cricket.

"So I don't think we will let this situation happen again in this World Cup. So I will just say that we will give our best in this World Cup."

The 22-year-old said India will not take the opposition lightly despite being tipped as favourites for the contest.

"We can't take any team lightly. They also came here to show good cricket ... we all know we have to win two games but we'll go game by game. We'll try to give our best cricket tomorrow and just win that game."

Shafali emphasized that the team has drawn confidence from a similar situation during last year's ODI World Cup, when India staged a remarkable comeback to stay alive in the tournament.

"Its not like that we have never been in this situation before. We have come out of this situation last year. Tough situations are those which have never come in your life but we have overcome this situation by accepting it in ODIs," Shafali said.

"So we know that we have to win both these matches. So how do we have to prepare? How will we have to talk to each other as a player?

"So I will just say that ... this time also, we will just go in and see what we did at that time, what we executed well. So every player has gone and seen that and we all are ready for that."

(With PTI Inputs)