Thread by @AbhishekPonia

The mind-blowing story behind Shafali Verma’s (@TheShafaliVerma ) meteoric rise in Indian cricket:

(Cricket fan or not, you need to read this THREAD)

#threadsbyAP

PC: AFP

WHO is Shafali Verma?
A teenage sensation who made her debut for the Indian women’s cricket team at just 15 years of age. An explosive batsman, she has caught the eye of cricket fans from across the world!

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HOW did a girl from Rohtak become one of the most exciting cricketers in India?

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Shafali’s home is a cricket fan’s home! Her dad played cricket & Aimed to play for India. Unfortunately that couldn’t happen. Her elder brother Sahil played cricket. Shafali was interested in cricket from the very beginning.

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But her interest turned into a GOAL, when she went to watch a Ranji Trophy match that was Sachin Tendulkar’s last. There was a sea of people, Shafali was dumbstruck that so many people turned up to watch ONE player!

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She asked her father how this is possible & he said - “with hard work & determination you can achieve this too.” She took this a bit too seriously! @sachin_rt became her idol & cricket became her religion! She was 9 years old then.

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Her father started training her. He incentivised her by giving her 5 Rupees for every sixer that she would hit!
Dads have their way of getting the best out of their children :)

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No cricket academy was ready to admit her! Cos a girl in a conservative society playing outdoor sport was frowned upon! Some said she would get hurt playing with the boys.
Her dad supported her throughout, & never let anything come in the way of her progress.

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One incident changed things - her brother was playing at a tournament! But fell sick & couldn’t go. Shafali dressed up as a boy & played the tournament as her brother! Guess what - she not only beat the boys, she also won the Player of the Tournament award!

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She attended coaching at the local academy as a BOY! This was the only way!
She was so young, no one realised this till much later.
Shafali believes facing the boys at such an early age, made her game stronger.

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She kept working hard & rapidly went up the ranks ... Under-16, under-19 and so on... not long after, she grabbed the attention of national selectors!

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She made her international debut at just 15 years of age!
Shortly after she broke her idol @sachin_rt ‘s long-standing record & became the youngest Indian to score a 50 in international cricket!

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She was one of India’s top performers at the Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 where India reached the final!
She grabbed the attention of the entire world at this event.

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A few days ago, she made her test debut against England & scored fifties in both innings - a first by an Indian woman!
She was declared the Player of the Match.

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Shafali is testimony to the fact that Indian women have a ton of talent & given the right support and platform, they will excel! She is already a ROLE-MODEL for many girls to pursue sports as a career.

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Brands which currently sponsor her include @Nike , @GoogleIndia & @sg_cricket . I urge more corporates / brands to consider associating with this swashbuckling cricketer!

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Some brands who I think will be the right fit for her:
- Boost (secret of my energy)
- @redbull (gives you wings)
- Tata Salt (desh ka namak)
- @reliancejio (super fast internet)
- Volini
- Mahindra Thar...once she turns 18 (explore the impossible)
- Astral Pipes

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Shafali’s is often likened to @virendersehwag as a player.. but she is NOT the Sehwag of the women’s team, she is the first SHAFALI VERMA!
There was no one like her before.

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I hope more girls take up sport as a career ..... and continue to break the barriers of orthodoxy we have seen in Indian societies for very long!

END.