Watching Tendulkar’s Innings Inspired My Comeback: Shafali Verma

Indian opener Shafali Verma has revealed that watching legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar’s Test match innings played a pivotal role in reigniting her focus and motivation during a difficult phase in her career.

Speaking to BCCI in a video interview ahead of the white-ball series opener against England in Nottingham, Shafali reflected on her time away from the national setup after being dropped due to poor form. It was during this period, she said, that she turned to Tendulkar’s batting videos for guidance and inspiration.

“Earlier I used to think of scoring a four or a six off every ball, but then I realised that it’s important to give respect to a good ball,” Shafali admitted. “I saw Sachin sir’s Test innings and got a lot of motivation from that.”

The 20-year-old opener, known for her aggressive batting style, said watching how Tendulkar approached each delivery with patience helped her understand the value of playing each ball on merit—an insight that reshaped her mindset during training and matches.

Having made a strong return to the Indian women’s team, Shafali is now eager to apply her improved approach as India kicks off its tour of England. With her redefined focus and renewed confidence, the youngster hopes to deliver consistent performances across formats.