POTCHEFSTROOM: Holding the inaugural U19 Women's T20 World Cup trophy was the only birthday gift Shafali Verma wanted ahead of the finale against England at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom.
On Sunday, just a day after turning 19, Shafali got her wish fulfilled when India beat England by seven wickets to lift the country's first-ever global trophy in women's cricket. As the magnitude of the achievement finally began to sink in, Shafali had tears of happiness and called it "an incredible feeling".
"The way all the girls are performing and backing each other, so happy. Incredible feeling. Thanks to the staff, the way they have been backing us every day and telling us that we are here for the cup and because of them we are here. All thanks to them. The players have been backing me a lot," she said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
Three years ago, Shafali had to be consoled by her teammates when India were bundled out for 99 in chasing 185 against Australia in the 2020 Women's T20 World Cup final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Now, with tears of joy during the post-match presentation ceremony at Potchefstroom in 2023, she and Indian women's cricket have indeed come a long way.
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