Shafali Verma’s journey back to India’s one-day side reached a dream high on the grandest of stages as the 21-year-old produced a match-defining all-round show in India’s first 50-over World Cup victory. After spending almost a year away from the ODI set-up, the youngster who once burst onto the scene as a fearless lad reclaimed his place in stunning fashion when India needed him the most.
Her return to the national team happened almost by accident. Shafali was only drafted after Pratika Rawal sprained her ankle while fielding against Bangladesh, knocking the in-form opener out of the tournament. A late call suddenly opened Shafaliand she took it emphatically with a breakthrough performance in the final: 87 from 78 balls at the top and a telling spell of 2 for 36 that shifted the momentum firmly towards India.
Talking to PTI during her felicitation in Rohtak, Shafali said that the last year has pushed her to her limits.
“The last year has been very difficult for me. I have faced a lot of problems, but I have continued to work extremely hard and God has rewarded me for my efforts,” she said.
Reflecting on her first day with the team ahead of the semi-finals, she added: “I was a bit nervous at first, but I calmed down, focused on my strategy and executed it well. I just wanted to contribute to winning the World Cup.”
She also shared a message for young girls who look up to her.
“They should always put in hard work in whatever field they choose and also have confidence and the results will come,” said Shafali.
Shafali Verma World Cup
Her recovery was not sudden. After being dropped from the ODI side due to inconsistent returns, Shafali rebuilt her game for domestic cricket. She topped the points charts in the Senior Women’s One Day Trophy and the Challenger Trophy, piling up runs with a high number of strikes while showing extended periods of control and maturity at the crease. Those performances convinced voters that her game had evolved.
In the final, this evolution showed itself in full. She combined early aggression with a calmer pace in a 104-run opening partnership with Smriti Mandhana and later produced two crucial breakthroughs when she removed Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp to derail South Africa’s run chase. The Player of the Match award completed the comeback in the form of patience, transformations and pure fight.
Shafali returned home to a hero’s welcomewho said lifting the trophy meant much more than a missed century and recognition of her family’s unwavering support in a challenging, defining year.
– The end
Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
November 9, 2025
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