WATCH: Shafali Verma pulls off MS Dhoni, defends last ball of over to allow Meg Lanning score fifty in WPL 2024

Shafali Verma played a selfless act in the WPL 2024 game against UP Warriorz women. The star batter defended the last ball of the 14th over in order to allow Meg Lanning to score fifty. The gesture of the Indian batter won the hearts of the fans on social media. Many had a throwback to a similar incident in the past which involved two legends of the game.

In the semifinal of the T20 WC 2014, India took on South Africa. As SA posted a great total of 172 runs on the board, India chased down the target with relative ease, thanks to brilliant knocks from Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina. India needed just one run in the last seven balls of the innings. Beuran Hendricks was the bowler and MS Dhoni was on strike.

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The left-arm pacer bowled a slower bouncer towards the chest height of the batter. Dhoni had all the time in the world to clear the ball towards the mid-wicket region to finish the game in style. However, the former Indian skipper opted to just defend the ball. When Virat asked why he defended the ball, Dhoni signalled him to finish the things in style to grab the limelight.

Shafali Verma recreates MS Dhoni

The incident has been etched in the memories of the fans and is regarded as one of the most selfless acts by a batter. Shefali did something similar in the game against UP Warriorz. Having scored 64 herself, the opener knew that her captain was on 49 at the other end. While the bowler delivered a fuller ball, the DC opener had all the time in the world to dispatch it over the fence.

However, Shafali defended the ball and allowed her skipper to take strike the following over. The move from the youngster was praised by the fans. Lanning went on to score a fifty and perished a ball after that. Jemimah Rodrigues entered the middle and hit a boundary to finish the match for DC women with 33 balls to spare.