ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 | Jhulan Goswami backs Shafali Verma to come good against NZ

India will be up against one of their toughest oppositions in the Women’s World Cup on Thursday, 10 March. A familiar foe, New Zealand will be raring to go against the subcontinental rivals having drubbed them 4-1 right before the commencement of the Women’s World Cup. 

India have been good with the bat in recent times, but the struggle of their most attacking outlet - Shafali Verma has been a concern. The right-handed swashbuckling batsman has scored three ducks in her last four outings (including warm-ups) and has been out of touch for quite some time now.

However, on the eve of the crucial match, veteran Indian fast bowler Jhulan Goswami has assured Indian fans that Shafali will come good. 

"I am sure she is working hard in the nets. She is just one big knock away and if she gets an opportunity, I am sure she is going to do well," she added. Verma was played on in the first game against Pakistan after trying to reach at a full length delivery that nipped back into her.

Despite being thrashed by New Zealand ahead of the World Cup, Goswami sounded confident, "...that was the plan, just before the World Cup, to acclimatise with these conditions and wickets and come back and play fresh in this World Cup.”

India had faced problems with their bowling line-up against New Zealand which essentially ended up being the difference between the two sides in the recently concluded series. The injection of the Bengal speedster seemed to have done the trick in the first game, as they restricted Pakistan team to just 137. Jhulan herself took two wickets while Rajeshwari Gayakwad took four.

"I think we bowled well. I guess we hit the ball in the right areas and as a group, we bowled well. The new ball bowlers restricted them very well in the first 10 overs...

"Then the spinners bowled well, they were getting a bit of turn on that wicket and I think restricting them below 150 runs is quite a good achievement as a bowling unit," said Goswami.

The right hander, on the brink of a world record, stated that the plan is going to bowl in the right areas against the NZ batters and then hope for the best. Jhulan currently has 38 wickets in the Women’s World Cup and needs two more to become the leading wicket-taker in the competition.