'That moment still motivates me': Shafali Verma confident ahead of T20 World Cup opener vs New Zealand

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The Indian women's team kickstart their T20 World Cup campaign on Friday (October 4) as they take on New Zealand.

Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian team will be aiming to make a positive start to the World Cup. After missing out on the final by a whisker in the previous edition, it will be a massive challenge for the Indian women to take the next chapter in the tournament.

Ahead of the match, India cricketer Shafali Verma shared her thoughts on the opening game against New Zealand and facing Sophie Devine. The Blackcaps do have a strong team and Devine is a massive threat to the Indian team.

"Yes, our first game is against New Zealand, and it's exciting to face them after a long time. We've been preparing for the World Cup for the past 6-7 months, and we're all looking forward to it. Sophie Devine is a fearless batter, so we'll try to get her out early," Shafali said on Star Sports.

Under the captaincy of Shafali Verma, India won the U19 World Cup a year ago. Verma led her team sublimely and showcased her leadership qualities. Speaking of that, the player reveals that the moment still continues to motivate her.

"Winning the U19 World Cup was a huge moment-not just for me, but for my family, my country, and for every woman out there. It was a memorable day, and I was crying tears of joy. That moment still motivates me whenever I see the pictures because I achieved something no other woman in India had. The whole team was very close, and I hope we can do well in 2024 too," she added.

Shafali also heaped praises on Smriti Mandhana and captain Harmanpreet Kaur and said the duo will be pivotal for India's chances in the T20 World Cup. The tournament, which started from Thursday, was originally to be played in Bangladesh but political unrest shifted it to the UAE.