WPL 2023 FinalWon't say Shafali Verma is a strength for Delhi Capitals, says Aakash Chopra

By India Today Sports DeskFormer cricketer Aakash Chopra has claimed that Shafali Verma cannot be considered as a strength for Delhi Capitals ahead of the WPL 2023 final.

The summit clash will see DC take on Mumbai Indians with both sides being the most consistent ones throughout the season. Shafali and Meg Lanning have been giving the Delhi brilliant stars in the first few games, but the Indian batter has slowly started to fade away a bit.

Shafali has scored 241 runs in eight matches this season at an average of 34.42.

Speaking on his show on JioCinema, as quoted by Sportskeeda, Chopra said that he feels Shafali can’t be considered as a strength for DC given her inconsistency.

“I won’t say Shafali Verma is a strength. We really don’t know what you are getting out of Shafali Verma, especially if it is a knockout game. A high-risk player can open the game in a minute, but if she gets out at the start, the pressure gets doubled on you. So Shafali – I am not sure,” said Chopra.

Chopra said that Lanning’s captaincy is the biggest strength for DC at the moment. The former cricketer further went on to say that the DC skipper isn’t batting just for herself but the team as a whole by absorbing the pressure and taking the game deep.

“Delhi’s strength is Meg Lanning’s captaincy. She is outstanding. It is also a battle between the captains – there is Meg Lanning on one side and Harmanpreet Kaur on the other. This tournament’s two best captains will be against each other.”

“So Meg Lanning’s captaincy and Meg Lanning’s batting. She is not only batting for herself but her partners as well, that she will absorb the pressure and take the innings deep. She even protects Shafali Verma as she did against Shabnim Ismail,” said Aakash Chopra.