Shafali Verma hopeful of leading India to first women’s ICC title

India’s Shafali Verma addresses the media. Pic/Getty Images

Batting sensation Shafali Verma will chase history when she leads India against England in the first-ever ICC U-19 Women's T20 World Cup final here on Sunday.

The Indian women's cricket team have never won a World Cup at any level and the young batter, who has been part of two World Cups and one Commonwealth Games final with the senior team, will look to bring the elusive title home. Shafali does not want to let go of the opportunity this time. "Haan bahut finals khela hai [Yes, I've played a lot of finals and seen it all]," Shafali, who turned 19 on Saturday, said on the eve of the final.

"It's all past and that cannot be recreated. We are determined to bring the World Cup this time and are trying to improve day by day," she added. "It's about going out there and enjoying the game. I've told the teammates ‘don't stress, just give your 100 per cent." India suffered one defeat in the Super Six league stage where they lost to Australia.

"We had nervous moments and couldn't sleep, thinking about whether we could make the final or not... But we have learnt from the mistakes and here we are." India will be up against a strong England side that topped its Super Six group by winning all the four matches.

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