Shafali Verma: 'I have matured as a cricketer and value my wicket more'

Poised to return to Indian scheme of things, former women's prodigy Shafali Verma said the time away from the team after she was dropped has matured her and she will be smarter now and respect bowlers before she explodes, as her talent permits. India's T20 side will start their campaign against English women on June 28. Verma averages a lowly 20 in England, but is scoring upwards of a 150 strike rate in Women’s Premier League (WPL) for Delhi Capitals.

- GNS News Agency

Talking to Hindustan Times, Verma said, “At the start, I was carefree and hit every ball I faced. I enjoyed dominating the bowlers, going for big shots. I have matured as a cricketer and value my wicket more. I want to contribute to every game so that my team benefits."Her renewed approach, she told HT was pragmatic. “I won't say my style has changed much, but yes, I will be defensive too, and give respect to good bowlers. England has good bowlers like Nat Sciver-Brunt and Sophie Ecclestone. So, I won't just throw my wicket,” she stressed.Her time away from sport had taught her p