Battle-hardened Verma not overawed by the big occassion

As Shafali Verma settled in the seat at the dais, the run-of-the-mill mic check felt like she had never been away. If she felt a bit isolated at the start of the first training session on Tuesday, by match eve her trademark swagger was back on ample display.

The same was the case with her batting too, barely 24 hours after joining the team in an unexpected turn of events that ruled Pratika Rawal out of the tournament. Verma held back the aerial shots early on in the nets, showcased her improved repertoire with the delicate cuts and dabs, and even tried the unconventional before finally giving in to her aggressive instincts in the open nets.

That patience reflected in the media interaction too. She took her time - calmly listening and nodding to questions, and answering on topics ranging from her comeback to the emotions and the challenge that lies ahead of her team.

For someone riding an emotional rollercoaster since the week had kicked in, her reply was laced with guilt as well as gratitude when asked about her immediate reaction to the recall ahead of a high-stakes game against the defending champions. But she also exuded a sense of purpose now that she had landed the golden opportunity.

"Of course, what happened with Pratika - as a sportsperson, seeing that doesn't feel good. No one wants any player to go through such an injury. But I believe God has sent me here to do something good... It's a very good opportunity for me, and if I get to play, I'll give my best," Verma said at the DY Patil Stadium on Wednesday (October 29) exactly a year since she last played an ODI for India.

The messaging from the team has been clear - to back her natural game. But the switch from the T20 format - she was in Surat with Haryana for the Sr. Women's T20 League - to 50-overs cricket has taken a bit of getting used to in a short turnaround. Verma, wasn't complaining. She instead utilised both the available training sessions to India, batting for over an hour two days in a row ahead of the semis.

"As a batter, it's not easy to switch formats so quickly," Verma said. "But, I've had good practice sessions yesterday and today. I stayed calm and batted well. I tried to attack the bowlers who were in my range. I've had long batting sessions over the last two days, and I'm feeling really good because whatever I'm trying is working out. I'm happy with my touch - it's looking very good for me."

Any other 21-year-old may have been fazed by the sense of occasion - a semifinal of a home World Cup, against defending champions Australia layered with the comeback narrative and the urge, perhaps, to prove critics wrong. But Verma isn't new to the big stage, or facing Australia - a point she asserts more than twice in ten minutes.

Verma went through the heartbreak of losing a T20 World Cup final to Australia in front of a record crowd at the MCG in 2020, the guilt of dropping game-changer Alyssa Healy flowing liberally in the form of tears. In 2023 (semis), 2024 (group stages) and 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medal clash, Australia snatched the game away similarly to leave India empty-handed.

Battle-hardened Verma feels that instead of getting overawed by the timing of her comeback, she just needs to keep her mind clear and focussed.

"It's not something new for me because I've played many semifinals before. It's just a matter of keeping my mind clear and giving myself confidence. I've been in such situations earlier, so it's nothing new. I'll keep telling myself to stay calm and believe in myself. So absolutely, I'll do well - 200%."

Not just Verma, India have shot at redemption too after an underwhelming round-robin stage that saw victories only against three of the bottom-four and none against the other semifinalists. Verma, however, comes in with a free mind, independent of the baggage, and clear in her approach.

"Well, when you're playing for the country, every match is important. If I play tomorrow, I'll give my best because the semifinal means a lot to our country. I won't think about any baggage. I'll just focus on playing and giving my best. If I overthink, I'll lose focus - so the simpler I keep things, the better it is for me."

A year after having drifted away, Verma now returns under semifinal spotlight - wiser, smarter and yet driven by the same fearlessness that first made her impossible to ignore.