Indian opener Shafali Verma has expressed confidence in the Women in Blue's ability to defeat Australia in their final league stage match of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup. While acknowledging the six-time champions as a world-class side, she pointed out that India has beaten them before, most recently in a T20I series in Australia earlier this year.
India's Semifinal Hopes Hinge on Australia Clash
India currently sits second in the group standings with three wins and one loss, accumulating six points. Their final league stage match against Australia at Lord's on Sunday will determine whether they advance to the semifinals. South Africa, also on six points, has one more match against Bangladesh, making it crucial for India to secure a comprehensive victory to book their spot.
Shafali Cites Recent Series Win as Confidence Booster
Speaking on JioStar's 'Match Centre Live', Shafali highlighted India's 2-1 T20I series victory in Australia in February 2026. "Everyone knows Australia are a world-class team. But it's not like we haven't beaten them before. We recently beat them in a T20 series in Australia, and that gives us confidence. We have been playing against them for years now. We know their bowlers, their strengths, and their plans. So, we will keep things straightforward, which is important and back our own strengths. The more you overthink, the harder it gets," she said.
Shafali's Form and Mindset Shift
Shafali has been in fine form in the tournament, scoring two half-centuries, though she started with a poor outing of just six runs against Pakistan. Reflecting on her improvement, she said, "A lot of things have improved in my batting. Before the Pakistan match, I was overthinking. I was planning too much, how I would play the first ball, what shot I would play off the second ball. But after that game, I realised that I do not need to complicate things. I just need to keep it simple. When I bat, I watch the ball and react. I don't plan too far ahead. That has helped me score runs more freely."
So far in the tournament, Shafali has scored 145 runs in four matches at an average of 36.25 and a strike rate of over 157.60, with a best score of 55. In 2026, across 15 T20Is, she has accumulated 405 runs at an average of 27.00 and a strike rate of over 148, including four fifties and a top score of 64.
Batting Philosophy: Keep It Simple
Shafali emphasised her approach of not forcing shots and focusing on strike rotation. "If my shots are not coming off, I do not force them. I take singles and keep the scoreboard moving. I think batting is all about not complicating things. Keep it simple, take singles, rotate the strike, and play along the ground when needed. If the ball is in my hitting zone, I go for it. Otherwise, I respect the good deliveries and look for ones and twos. That is the approach I have learned over time. Do not try to hit every ball. Stay calm, watch the ball, and react. Whatever I have learned so far, this is what I have understood," she concluded.
