Encouraged by her grandfather to take up any sport, Sushma Verma played different sports from handball to badminton before donning the wicket-keeperās gloves. Without ever playing cricket before, she turned up at the HPCA Academy for trials and was selected. Later in the year, she made it into the Under 19 team as a wicketkeeper-batswoman.
In an interview with
BCCI.TV, during Indiaās series against West Indies, Verma looks back on the journey, developing as a cricketer and her role in the team.
Excerpts:
Where and how did your journey begin?
It all started in April 2009. That was when I had to decide whether I should focus on studies or whether I should go into sports. I used to play handball, badminton, volleyball in my school so, the time had come to decide what I wanted to do professionally. During that time, I read in the news that BCCI President, Lt. Anurag Thakur is going to open a Residential Cricket Academy in Dharamsala. I went for trials and since I hadnāt played cricket before, I appeared for trials in all three departments.
I first did fast bowling, but since I had not played cricket up to that point, I wasnāt aware that we have to bowl with full rotation of the arm; I used to throw. The selectors then asked me whether I know how to bat and I replied affirmatively. But that didnāt go well either so my coach said I can try for something else if I would like to. I was wearing batting leg-guards at the time and I said, āI will go for wicket-keeping.ā After that the journey started in the Dharamsala Cricket Academy. I knew that I have started playing cricket late, at the age of 17, so I had to give it my all as I had very little time to adapt to techniques etc.
So how did you go about it?
My fitness was always good, because in Shimla where we live, I had to walk for an hour both ways through terrains while going to school. This helped me while working on my wicket-keeping.
My coach Pawan Sen thought I should continue with ākeeping, because I was good. I remember the first game when we played with the hard red ball and I was catching the nicks behind the stumps nicely. Thatās when I decided to take it up professionally. In the same year, I was selected for the Under 19 Himachal team, and the next year in 2010, I became the captain. We qualified for all India nationals for the first time and finished as runners up.
That was the turning point of my career as I was selected into the senior state team. And that was when I came to know about all the Indian players like Anjum Chopra, Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami and started admiring them. I also came to know, Harmanpreet Kaur, who is now a good friend. I would observe how they work, their work ethic. The same year, I was also selected for the North Zone side for the first time and then for the Challenger Trophy as well. At the time, the Australian team came to India and I played for the Board Presidentās XI against them. That year showed me what wicket-keeping is all about and how much hard work is required besides a lot of strength and good technique.
Where did you learn your skills the most?
When I started wicket-keeping my coach used to help me. He has played Ranji Trophy and was a good fielder (in his playing days). He shared with me whatever he knew about ākeeping. Later, when I started attending camps in NCA, I came to know about Anju di, Bali sir and Devika (Palshikar) didi. These people helped me a lot in developing my wicket-keeping skills.
Also, I attended a camp in Dharamsala where the Under 19 North Zone boys were training. Doing wicketkeeping drills with the boys helped me improve because it is difficult to judge things like a googly for a leg-spinner. It was during that time that I learned most of the skills and I continued doing the same.
Who has been your idol growing up as a wicket-keeper and what have you picked up from him or her?
Though I started playing very late, I used to watch Adam Gilchrist. He was a brilliant wicket-keeper. At that time Rahul Dravid and sometimes Parthiv Patel would keep wickets for India. These were two-three names who I would watch and admire. I wasnāt very clear in my mind at the time that I was going to become a wicket-keeper. I watch Gilchristās videos on YouTube and I try to follow him.
What would you ask him if you meet him?
I have lots of questions in my mind, but I would ask him about his stamina and how he played for so long.
How have you worked on your batting?
When I started playing for Himachal, I used to bat at No 3 or 4 most of the time. I have scored two good half-centuries for North Zone also and that is when my performance was seen by selectors and I was selected for the national side.
Now, when I am with the Indian team, most of the time I work on my wicket-keeping skills because that is my first job; we already have a good batting line-up. I have to do my first job first and smartly, only then will I be there. Whenever I get the opportunity, I go to practice my shots in the nets because I know that when I get to bat, I will be going in at a time when I will have to score maximum runs in minimum balls. So, I practice for the lofted shots and those that would fetch runs quickly.
What was the experience of playing a Test match like?
That was the most incredible experience of my life and I will cherish it forever. Before my debut I had gone to England but was sitting out. I watched Karuna Jain keep wickets and learnt how she tackles situations and wicket conditions. I learnt and executed it in the Test that I played in Mysore against South Africa. I kept wickets for two days. There was a session where we were down and just before lunch, the batters nicked and I took the catch nicely; it was a low catch. That was our only achievement of that session. Thatās when I came to know how the game proceeds session by session.
A wicket-keeper is in the best position to understand the wicket and share inputs with the team. Do you do the same?
I feel that the wicket-keeper is the backbone of the team and at the same time is a good analyser of the game for the team, because he or she is behind the stumps. I feel inputs should be a must. If you are playing in a state side, the situation is different. I can judge things easily and execute them. In the national side when you are playing with experienced players like Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami and Harmanpreet Kaur, I do give my inputs but the responsibility is less because they are there. I give my inputs if they feel they are good, they take them.
When not playing cricket, what do you like to do?
Photography is what I love to do. After I am 35 ā 40 years old, my goal is to carry a bag full of lenses and have a good collection of clicks.
