India, Dec. 24 -- For long, Shafali Verma was defined by her explosive and audacious batting, and the ability to hit boundaries at will. But India's second T20I win against Sri Lanka in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday was evidence that a crucial layer had been added to the opener's evolution.

"It felt like it was my day, but my focus was on executing my plans," Shafali, 21, said at a media conference after India's seven-wicket win to go 2-0 up in the five-match series.

It showed how the batter, always known for her fast start, is also working to stay on and build on the advantage. On a surface where the ball initially held up, Shafali resisted the temptation to go all out straightaway. Instead of playing forcing strokes, she worked the gaps, t...