She is only 16, yet the world is at her feet. Prodigious Indian opener Shafali Verma has taken the ICC Women's T20 World Cup by storm after just three knocks -- 29 vs Australia, 39 vs Bangladesh and 46 vs New Zealand. (More Cricket News)
After helping India become the first side to qualify for the semi-finals at T20 World Cup in Australia, Verma made batting greats Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag her fans.
The former India openers took to Twitter and hailed the girl from Rohtak.
"Fantastic performance by our Flag of India team to become the first team to enter the semi-final of #T20WorldCup. It was a tight game and we played well under pressure. Was great to see @TheShafaliVerma play yet another crucial knock. #INDWvNZW," Tendulkar, the owner of hundred hundreds, wrote.
Sehwag, arguably India's most destructive batsman ever, wrote: "Wah bhai Wah ! Great effort by the girls to hold on to their nerves and beat New Zealand and qualify for the semi finals of the #T20WorldCup. Shafali Verma is a rockstar. Anand aa raha hai ladkiyon ka performance dekhne mein."
Former India captain Diana Edulji said, “Shafali is a player who will draw a crowd to watch the women’s game. It’s not good to compare but she reminds me of Virender Sehwag. The attacking approach brings freshness to women’s cricket.”
Verma won player of the match awards in the last two matches, and would love to win another one when India take on Sri Lanka in their final Group A match against Sri Lanka on Saturday at Melbourne.
Shafali now has the most sixes (8) to her name so far is also the fourth-highest run-getter (114) with the highest strike-rate (172.72) in the tournament.
