“Shafali deserves this comeback,” Mandhana ne kaha, jaise ki unhone koi naya superstar dhoond liya ho. Par thodi si khujli toh banta hai—kya itni jaldi wapas bulana thik tha? Domestic cricket mein Shafali ne toh runs ke pahaad khade kiye, lekin international stage par woh consistency kahan? Senior Women’s One-Day Trophy mein 527 runs (strike rate 152.31, average 75.29) aur Challenger Trophy mein 414 runs (strike rate 145.26, average 82.80) banaye—impressive, par kya yeh England ke teekhe bowlers ke saamne chalega?
Lekin chalo, Mandhana ka jazba dekhne layak hai. Unki aur Shafali ki opening jodi ne T20Is mein 2636 runs jode hain, jo women’s T20Is mein doosri sabse badi opening partnership hai, run rate 7.90 ke saath. Yeh jodi jab chaar chhake lagati hai, toh bowlers ke hosh udd jaate hain. Yaad hai 2019 ka New Zealand ke khilaaf match? Shafali ne 24 balls mein fastest fifty thok di thi, aur Mandhana ne bhi 61* runs ke saath saath diya tha. Aisa lagta hai jaise dono ke bats se aag nikalti ho! Ab Southern Brave ki team-mate Lauren Bell bol rahi hain ki woh Mandhana ke khilaaf bowling karne ke liye utaavli hain. Bell, jo Hundred mein Mandhana ki saathi hain, ab unke khilaaf teer chalaengi. Yeh toh drama ka naya chapter hai
Ab thodi tareef ho jaye. Shafali ki mehnat ko salaam karna padega. Domestic cricket mein wapas jaakar unhone apni kamzori ko taakat banaya. Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 mein unhone Delhi Capitals ke liye dhamakedaar batting ki, aur ab India ke liye wapas aayi hain. Mandhana bhi toh Royal Challengers Bangalore ko WPL 2024 ka title jita chuki hain—763 runs T20Is mein last year, jo kisi bhi player ka sabse zyada tha. Dono ke saath jab field par utarti hain, toh bowlers ke liye mushkil ka sabab banta hai. England ke khilaaf T20I series mein, jo Nottingham se shuru ho rahi hai, Shafali aur Mandhana ki jodi phir se dhoom macha sakti hai.
Player Stats Table
| Player | Format | Runs | Strike Rate | Average | Notable Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shafali Verma | T20I | 2636* | 145.26 | 82.80 | Fastest fifty (24 balls, 2019) |
| Smriti Mandhana | T20I | 763 | 133.60 | – | 70-ball century vs Ireland, 2025 |
*Partnership runs with Mandhana
Par thodi si chinta toh banta hai. Hundred mein Southern Brave ke liye Mandhana ne 616 runs banaye, lekin Shafali ka Birmingham Phoenix ke saath record utna chamkila nahi. 2021 mein ek match mein 22 runs banaye, par team haar gayi. Kya Shafali international pressure mein phir se dikhla paayengi? Aur Bell, jo Southern Brave ki star bowler hain, kya Mandhana ko out karke apni team ke liye jeet laengi? Yeh match toh dekhne layak hoga, par dil mein ek shak rehta hai—kya Shafali sach mein wapas apna rang jama paayegi?
