Leading zealand

Dubai International Cricket Stadium: Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, India’s dynamic opening duo, are set to lead the charge as India faces New Zealand in their opening match of the Women’s T20 World Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday. The partnership between Shafali and Smriti has become one of the most formidable in T20 Internationals, with the pair amassing an impressive 2,483 runs from 73 matches, including three century-stands and 16 half-century partnerships.

Their synergy has been a crucial factor in India’s success, with Shafali revealing that their connection on the field has strengthened since they began opening together in 2019. The 19-year-old expressed how well she and Mandhana understand each other, which plays a pivotal role during their performances, especially in the crucial powerplay overs.

“I’ve been opening with Smriti for the past 2-3 years, and now we can sense each other’s feelings just by our facial expressions while batting. We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and give each other positive vibes. We understand how important we both are to the team, especially during the powerplay, so we try to perform well for ourselves, our teammates, and the country,” Shefali told Star Sports.