Shafali Verma reveals why she didn’t inform her father about being dropped from the Team India for Ireland series
In an emotional revelation, the young cricket prodigy Shafali Verma she shared why she maintained her exclusion from the Indian women’s cricket team for Ireland series in secret. The decision came as her family faced a health crisis, highlighting the personal challenges athletes often face behind the scenes.
The reason for the silence
Shafali, known for her aggressive batting style and leadership on the field, explained that her father suffered a heart attack just two days before the team selection was announced. Concerned for his health and well-being, Shafali decided not to burden him with the news that she had been dropped from the team.
“It’s not easy to get over that. I didn’t want to reveal it because my father had a heart attack about two days before I was kicked out of the team,” Shafali told the Indian Express.
A week of secrecy
Shafali kept this information from her father for a week, making sure he was in a stable condition before revealing the truth. She finally told him about her exclusion while he was still in the hospital but recovering.
“I hid the news from him until he was better. He was in the hospital. I told him a week later,” added Shafali.
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Pratika Rawal shines as a replacement for Shafali Verma
Namely, Shafali was featured in the ODI series against New Zealandbut her performances fell short of expectations, with scores of 33, 11 and 12 in three matches. Her inconsistent form prompted the selectors to take a bold decision and drop her from the squad for the Ireland series. In her place, Practice Rawal was brought in and quickly proved her worth at the top of the batting order.
Rawala’s impressive run of form includes a century and three half-centuries in just six matches, cementing her position as a reliable opener and adding fresh dynamism to the team’s batting line-up. This decision not only reflects the coach’s focus on rewarding performance, but also highlights the fierce competition within the squad, where players must deliver consistently to keep their places.
Also READ: Top 5 highest individual scores for India in women’s ODIs with Pratika Rawal
This article was first published on WomenCricket.comand Cricket times company.
