Mithali Raj lavishes praise on 18-year-old Shafali Verma

PTI

Dubai, July 25

With an ability to singlehandedly win matches against any opposition, India batter Shafali Verma is a once-in-a-generation cricketer, said former India skipper Mithali Raj.

Mithali, who recently announced her retirement from international cricket, is amazed at the kind of "raw power" that the 18-year-old generates in her shots.

“I have been a big fan of her game. I have seen that she's one player who has the ability to win the game single-handedly for India against any attack and any team. She is one of those players that you get to see probably once in a generation,” Mithali said.

“When I saw Shafali in a domestic match, she scored a fifty but I could see a glimpse of a player who could change the entire match just with her innings," said Mithali. “And when she played for Velocity in the first edition of the Challenger Trophy, she played for my team and I saw that she has the ability and the raw power that you rarely get to see at that age to clear the boundary and hit a six at will," she added.

Open to playing in WIPL

Having finished her illustrious 22-year-old international career with more than 10,000 runs, Mithali remains open to playing in the inaugural edition of the Women's IPL, set to start next year.

“I'm keeping that option open. I've not yet decided. There are a few more months to go before the women's IPL happens. It would be lovely to be part of the first edition of the women's IPL," she said.

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