Women’s T20WC 2020: "Shafali needs to value her wicket more," says Diana Edulji

Edulji also called Poonam Yadav India's 'trump card'.

Shafali Verma | Getty

Diana Edulji has asserted that 16-year-old Shafali Verma must value her wicket and score more than the 30s and 40s.

Indian opener Shafali Verma has been consistent in the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup. She has returned with scores in the 30s and 40s with a very healthy strike rate that has set up the total for the Indian team.

Women's T20WC 2020: Smriti Mandhana heaps rich praise on fellow opener Shafali Verma

However, former Indian women’s team captain Diana Edulji is not happy with it and has asked her to convert those knocks into big ones.

Edulji said, “We have been getting an explosive start in the powerplay, we should take advantage of that. Initially, we never used to get such explosive starts at the top, but now we have this youngster (Shafali) who is batting fearlessly and the others should look to bat around her and not compete with her.

I wish Shafali could move ahead of 30s and 40s, and just understand the importance of her wicket and put a price on her wicket,” she added.

She also spoke about the importance of other senior players in the squad like Poonam Yadav, Smriti Mandhana and captain Harmanpreet Kaur.

Poonam Yadav | GettyPoonam is our trump card. I want Smriti and Harman to come into form so that the pressure is totally on the opposition. Someone has to score big and bat the complete twenty overs. The others should take advantage of such an explosive start. You have to cross 160 and 170. Bowlers have been bailing us out every time, the extra cushion of 20-25 runs should be there,” she added.

Edulji also pointed out that the time is right for the ‘Women In Blue’ to win the tournament as all the teams in the tournament are struggling.

This is the right time to get the Cup because all the teams are struggling. We have a very good chance of winning the Cup. I wish the side all the best, we should cross the barrier and reach the finals and hopefully get the Cup,” she said.

(With inputs from ANI)

 
 

By Sameer Deodhar - 28 Feb, 2020

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